Exhalation profile and elimination kinetics of mouth alcohol

• Mouth alcohol (MA) is a potential source of error in alcohol breath-testing. Although utilized commercially for MA-detection, the exhalation profile of breath samples containing MA has not been systematically studied before. To characterize the exhalation profile of MA, volumetric expirograms of single-exhalations containing MA were examined. In addition, to explain reports of unusual slow elimination of MA and a suggested influence of blood alcohol on MA elimination, we tested whether MA is distributed to a second compartment by mathematical modelling. Eight subjects rinsed their mouths with alcohol without swallowing, before and after alcohol were administered directly into their stomachs. Breath samples were provided through a low airflow-restricted mouth piece into an analyzer with a sampling frequency of 33 Hz. Mouth alcohol caused an early concentration peak in air from the oral cavity, followed by a continuous contamination of the passing deep lung air which, at the end of the exhalation, exhibited a second, late, concentration peak. In the presence of blood alcohol, however, the distinctive peak features of the profile were absent despite that the breath samples contained MA, making the exhalation profile an unreliable tool for MA detection. Mouth alcohol is probably not distributed to a second compartment to an extent that is of any forensic importance.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Anestesi och intensivvård (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

breath alcohol concentration

mouth alcohol

exhalation profile

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art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)