Citation

Dettling A, Fischer F, Bohler S, Ulrichs F, Schuff A, Skopp G, von Meyer L, Graw M, Haffner HT. Blutalkohol 2006; 43(4): 257-268.

Affiliation

Institut fur Rechtsmedizin, Universitat Munchen, 80337 Munchen, Germany

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

It was the aim of a cooperative study of the forensic institutes of the universities of Munich and Heidelberg to establish an extensive database for ethanol pharmacokinetics on the basis of BrAC measurement considering forensic purposes. Ethanol was administered orally route to 81 women and 97 men. In this paper the findings during accumulation until peak concentrations were reported. The individual alcohol load was calculated for a peak concentration of about 0.8 g/kg over a drinking time of 2 hours. There was a free choice of the type of drink as well as the speed of drinking, therefore drinking time varied from 0.33 to 2.80 hours. The time to reach peak concentration was 0.17 g/kg/h up to 1.19 g/kg/h and 0.11 mg/l/h up to 0.63 mg/l/h for BAC and BrAC respectively. The maximum BAC was reached at about 30 minutes following consumption of the drinks (median, range 0-111 minutes) and was 0.88 (plus or minus) 0.18 g/kg. The peak of BrAC (0.45 (plus or minus) 0.08 mg/1) was about a quarter of an hour closer to the time when drinking was complete (median 12 minutes, range -11 - 84 min). BAC/BrAC conversion factor Q was small showing a wide fluctuation during alcohol loading (Q0,255 A = 1.685 ml/kg (plus or minus) 0.348 ml/kg), however rising up to peak values, a smaller range could be observed. The values were still lower than 2 ml/kg at the peak of the BrAC curve (QBrAC peak = 1.895 (plus or minus) 0.236), and were close to 2 at the peak of the BAC (QBAC peak = 2.045 ml/kg (plus or minus) 0.147 ml/kg). Twenty minutes after completed drinking (waiting time before 1st BrAC measurement) barely 40 % had reached a Q (greater-than or equal to) 2. The median was at 32 minutes, the 75 % quartile was at 64 minutes after completed drinking. In 15 cases (8.4 %) Q was less than 2 during the whole elimination phase. These data suggest, that BrAC measurement, which is taken too early after drinking is complete, leads to an unjustified strain of the person due to higher BrAC in the area of the peak of the curve. Therefore, when compared to BAC it seems necessary to introduce a minimum time interval before a BrAC measurement is taken, depending on the time of a back calculation in BAC measurement. The length of time of this interval should be orientated on the beginning of the linear elimination kinetics of the BrAC.

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