Thierauf, Annette; Kempf, Jürgen; Eschbach, Jörg; Auwärter, Volker; Weinmann, Wolfgang; Gnann, Heike (2013). A case of distinct difference between the measured blood Ethanol concentration and the concentration estimated by Widmark's equation. Medicine, Science and the Law, 53(2), pp. 96-99. Sage 10.1258/msl.2012.012038
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)In the last century, several mathematical models have been developed to calculate blood ethanol concentrations (BAC) from the amount of ingested ethanol and vice versa. The most common one in the field of forensic sciences is Widmark's equation. A drinking experiment with 10 voluntary test persons was performed with a target BAC of 1.2 g/kg estimated using Widmark's equation as well as Watson's factor. The ethanol concentrations in the blood were measured using headspace gas chromatography/flame ionization and additionally with an alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH)-based method. In a healthy 75-year-old man a distinct discrepancy between the intended and the determined blood ethanol concentration was observed. A blood ethanol concentration of 1.83 g/kg was measured and the man showed signs of
intoxication. A possible explanation for the discrepancy is a reduction of the
total body water content in older people. The incident showed that caution is
advised when using the different mathematical models in aged people. When
estimating ethanol concentrations, caution is recommended with calculated results due to potential discrepancies between mathematical models and biological systems
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine > Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology |
UniBE Contributor: |
Weinmann, Wolfgang |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health |
ISSN: |
0025-8024 |
Publisher: |
Sage |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Katrin Renfer |
Date Deposited: |
10 Jun 2014 11:00 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 14:30 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1258/msl.2012.012038 |
PubMed ID: |
23065682 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/44819 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit item |