Study into the ability of healthy people of small stature to satisfy the sampling requirements of breath alcohol testing instruments.

In a previous study (Gomm et al., 1991) people with a variety of respiratory diseases were tested and criteria defined for assessing their ability to provide samples for Breath Alcohol Testing Instruments. This study investigated the possible problems which may be encountered by healthy people of small stature--5ft 5in (166cm) or less--who do not suffer from a respiratory disease. This study followed the same pattern as the earlier work in that lung function (Forced Expiration Volume in One Second (FEV1) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)) was measured by spirometry, and Peak Expiration Flow Rate (PEFR) was measured using a Wright peak flow meter. Following the lung function measurements the subjects were requested to provide samples for Breath Alcohol Testing Instruments used by the Police in Great Britain. As with the previously reported work (Gomm et al., 1991), this study found that the FEV1 and FVC gave the most reliable indication of a person's capability of satisfying the sampling requirements of Breath Alcohol Testing Instruments, but on this occasion the PEFR also provided a good confirmatory indication. Because there were no subjects with interstitial lung diseases the values determined by this study on 48 healthy adults indicate that a healthy person of small stature should be capable of supplying a suitable breath sample if their FEV1, FVC and PEFR are greater than 2.31, 2.61 and 330 l/min respectively.

The response of evidential breath alcohol testing instruments with subjects exposed to organic solvents and gases. I. Toluene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and butane.

Experimental work has been undertaken to investigate the potential interference of toluene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and butane with the evidential breath alcohol testing instruments used in Great Britain (Lion Intoximeter 3000 and Camic Breath Analyser). Volunteers inhaled the volatile substances in an exposure chamber for up to 4 hours, at concentrations of 100, 350 and 600ppm respectively. Subsequently breath was tested on leaving the chamber. No interference was observed with the breath alcohol instruments when the subjects were exposed to toluene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane. A short-term response immediately after exposure was observed for subjects exposed to butane. Further analytical work involving blood and breath samples demonstrated that all three volatile substances were absorbed during exposure and were detectable in blood for at least 3 hours post-exposure. Their elimination post-exposure followed an exponential decay.

The response of evidential breath alcohol testing instruments with subjects exposed to organic solvents and gases. II. White spirit and nonane.

Following exposure to white spirit vapour, the effect of the expired solvent on evidential breath alcohol equipment was investigated under controlled exposure chamber conditions and in a simulated painting exercise. Five volunteers inhaled the solvent in an exposure chamber at a concentration of 100ppm for periods up to 4h 17min. Two other volunteers were exposed to white spirit while painting with domestic gloss paint in an unventilated room under which conditions exposure concentrations reached 185ppm for 20min. Following all white spirit exposures, volunteers underwent breath tests with the Lion Intoximeter 3000. In all instances the apparent alcohol responses were very small and never exceeded a reading of 1 microgram/100ml for breath samples more than 10min post-exposure. Simultaneous analytical work was conducted to demonstrate that white spirit was absorbed during exposure and was present in the breath and blood after the volunteers had left the exposure atmospheres. A further study involved the exposure of a volunteer to nonane vapour at 100ppm, demonstrating that this compound, being one of the principal components of white spirit, appears to be a good model for studying the uptake and elimination of white spirit.

Study into the ability of patients with impaired lung function to use breath alcohol testing devices.

A subject who fails to provide an adequate breath sample for a breath alcohol measuring device under the provisions of Road Traffic Act 1988 may be charged with refusing to supply a sample unless the police officer believes the person is genuinely unable to do so. Subjects who are confronted with this situation may approach their general practitioner or chest physician for advice on whether they are medically able to provide adequate breath samples to satisfy the breath testing devices. There is currently no guidance available for medical practitioners concerning respiratory performance or lung function which will impair the use of such breath testing devices. This paper describes experiments with human volunteers suffering from respiratory illnesses and their ability to provide adequate breath samples to satisfy the requirements of the breath alcohol testing devices used in Great Britain. It was found that the most suitable parameters for determining whether a subject was capable of using a breath alcohol testing device were spirometry measurements of Forced Expired Volume in one second (FEV1) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC). In this study subjects with a FEV1 less than 2.0 litres and a FVC less than 2.6 litres were generally unable to use all the devices.

The effect of salbutamol on breath alcohol testing in asthmatics.

Subjects suffering from asthma can occasionally experience difficulty in providing adequate breath samples for evidential breath alcohol testing devices and may therefore resort to the use of bronchodilators such as salbutamol to improve their respiration. Experiments showed that although salbutamol caused bronchodilation it did not affect breath alcohol levels of asthmatics who have been drinking. The blood:breath alcohol ratios obtained from asthmatics were within the normally recorded range before and after use of salbutamol. We conclude that the use of salbutamol by asthmatics does not affect the reliability of measurements made by evidential breath alcohol testing devices.