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ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE. A. Karl Larsen, Jr., Ph.D. Illinois State Police Forensic Sciences Command Forensic Science Center at Chicago ISP/UIC Program Instructor in Drug Chemistry and Toxicology Toxicology Technical Leader Telephone: (312) 433-8000 ext. 2051.
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ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE A. Karl Larsen, Jr., Ph.D. Illinois State Police Forensic Sciences Command Forensic Science Center at Chicago ISP/UIC Program Instructor in Drug Chemistry and Toxicology Toxicology Technical Leader Telephone: (312) 433-8000 ext. 2051
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • LEVELS • EFFECTS • INDIVIDUAL VARIATION • MEASURING BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (BAC) • CALCULATIONS for ALCOHOL • EVIDENCE for PROSECUTION
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • ABSORPTION • Through mucous membranes (minor) • Most absorbed in small intestine • Peak levels reached 30 - 90 minutes • Dependent on food intake • Can be absorbed through lungs, but very high levels of exposure for extended periods of time are needed for blood levels of 0.01 - 0.05 g/dL
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Distribution • Through body water • Ratios based on blood levels (averages) • Blood:Serum 1:1.18 • Blood:Brain 1:0.75 • Blood:Breath 2100:1 • Blood:Blood Clot 1:0.77 • Blood:Saliva 1:1.12
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • METABOLISM and EXCRETION • CH3CH2OH Alcohol Dehydrogenase> CH3CHOEthanolAcetaldehyde • CH3CHO Aldehyde Dehydrogenase> CH3COOH AcetaldehydeAcetic Acid • 95% of dose metabolized in this manner • 5% excreted unchanged in urine, feces, breath and sweat
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • METABOLISM • Induction of liver enzymes with use • Second step appears to be rate limiting • Acetaldehyde can build up in the system
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Post Mortem Production of Ethanol • Through bacterial fermentation of sugar in the blood • Normally levels reached will not exceed 0.05 g/dL • Prevented with use of preservatives in blood tubes (F-1, Hg+3 ) or cold
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • LEVELS • Under 21 years of age: 0.00 g/dL BAC • Over 21 years of age • not more than 0.05 g/dL BAC • >0.05 but not more than 0.079 g/dL BAC • = or > 0.08 g/dL BAC • When working in jobs in the public sector: 0.00 g/dL BAC
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • EFFECTS • Central Nervous System Depressant • Loss of judgment • Loss of inhibition • Loss of fine motor skills • Loss of coordination • Different stages of intoxication
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Think before you drink. Drunk is Dumb (alcohol puts the smart part of your brain to sleep) • At .020 light to moderate drinkers begin to feel some effects. • At .040 most people begin to feel relaxed.
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • At .060 judgment is somewhat impaired, people are less able to make rational decisions about their capabilities (for example, driving). • At .080 there is a definite impairment of muscle coordination and driving skills; this is legal level for intoxication in most states.
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • At .10 there is a clear deterioration of reaction time and control; this is legally drunk in all states. • At .120, vomiting usually occurs. Unless this level is reached slowly or a person has developed a tolerance to alcohol. • At .150, balance and movement are impaired. This blood-alcohol level means the equivalent of 1/2 pint of whiskey is circulating in the blood stream.
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • At .300 many people lose consciousness. • At .400 most people lose consciousness; some die. • At .450, breathing stops; this is a fatal dose for most people
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE Examples of Blood Alcohol Levels in males (160 lbs) and females (140 lbs). After 3 hours of drinking (1 drink = 12 oz. of beer) • Female: 4 drinks = BAC .08 • Male: 5 drinks = BAC .076
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE One drink is defined as having one-half ounce of pure ethyl alcohol (EtOH); each of the following is considered "one drink.“ *10 oz to 12 oz of beer (4% to 5% EtOH) *8 oz to 12 oz of wine cooler (4% to 6% EtOH) *5 oz to 6 oz of table wine (9% to 12% EtOH) *2.5 oz of fortified wine (20% EtOH) *1.25 oz of 80 proof distilled spirits (40% EtOH) *1 oz of 100 proof distilled spirits (50% EtOH)
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Stages of Intoxication • Sobriety • < 0.05 g/dL BAC • No obvious physical effects • Judgment starting to be affected • Inhibitions starting to lessen • Driver no more likely to be involved in an accident than someone at 0.00 g/dL
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Euphoria • 0.03 to 0.12 g/dL BAC • Increased sociability, talkativeness, self confidence • Decreased attention, judgment and inhibitions • Decreased efficiency in fine motor control
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Excitement • 0.09 to 0.25 g/dL BAC • Increased emotional instability • Inhibitions, critical judgment, sensory response time decreased further • Increased reaction time • Impaired memory, comprehension • Muscular incoordination
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Confusion • 0.18 to 0.30 g/dL BAC • Exaggerated emotional states • Disorientation, dizziness and mental confusion, muscular incoordination • Disturbances in perception of time, color, motion, distance, form and dimension • Impaired balance, staggering gait, slurred speech
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Stupor • 0.27 to 0.40 g/dL BAC • Apathy & ataxia (approaching paralysis) • Decreased response to sensory stimuli • Vomiting, incontinence of urine and feces (death here due to aspiration of vomit) • Inability to stand, walk and/or talk • Impaired consciousness, sleep or stupor
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Coma • 0.35 to 0.50 g/dL BAC • Depressed or absent reflexes • Decreased body temperature • Complete unconsciousness, coma and anesthesia • Embarrassment of respiration and circulation, possible death
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Death • = and > 0.45 g/dL BAC • Death from respiratory paralysis
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Death, but not necessarily • Lorain, Ohio – 49 year old man arrested for DUI had a BAC of 0.532 g/dL • Iowa – Worker drank from fuel ethanol storage pond, passed out and was later tested. His BAC was 0.72 g/dL
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Individual Variation • No two people respond exactly the same to equal amounts of alcohol • People develop tolerance with chronic use of alcohol • Acute tolerance to alcohol can develop in a short period of time
Measuring BAC • Field Sobriety Testing • Psychophysical (Walk and Turn, etc.) • Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) • Breathalyzer • Portable Breath Testing devices • Breathalyzers • Hospital blood draws (Serum) • Blood Draws for DUI Kits (Whole Blood) ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Calculations using BAC • Back Extrapolation - knowing the times of the accident and blood draw, we can calculate a BAC range for the time of the accident
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Calculations using BAC • Back Extrapolation - knowing the times of the accident and blood draw, we can calculate a BAC range for the time of the accident • Amount of Alcohol Consumed - with the time course of alcohol consumption, BAC, weight and sex of the individual, we can calculate how much alcohol was consumed to reach the BAC found
Evidence For Prosecution • DUI Kit • Medical records if hospital blood draw is to be used • Breathalyzer results and calibrations • Field Sobriety and/or PBT results • Probable cause • To aid in determining impairment if BAC is >0.05 but <0.08 g/dL ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Courtroom Testimony • BAC • Back Extrapolation • Symptoms • Possible Alcohol Consumption • Conversion of SAC to BAC • Drug Interactions
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Courtroom Testimony • BAC • Back Extrapolation • Symptoms • Possible Alcohol Consumption • Conversion of SAC to BAC • Drug Interactions • Miscellaneous
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE • Problems with Alcohol • Diabetic incidents • Time of consumption • Post-incident consumption • Cough syrup consumption • Chain of Custody issues • Breathalyzer issues • Use of serum blood concentration
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE QUESTIONS?
ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY and PERFORMANCE THANK YOU VERY MUCH