ForensicsForensics

ToxicologyToxicology

AlcoholAlcohol

AlcoholAlcohol Alcohol is a colorless liquid, Alcohol is a colorless liquid,

normally diluted with normally diluted with water and water and consumed as a consumed as a beverage. beverage.

It is also a drug used as a depressant. It is also a drug used as a depressant. Alcohol’s principle effect is on the Alcohol’s principle effect is on the central nervous system and brain.central nervous system and brain.

The extent of the depression is The extent of the depression is proportional to the concentration of proportional to the concentration of

alcohol within the nerve cell.alcohol within the nerve cell.

AlcoholAlcohol Absorption of alcohol Absorption of alcohol

takes takes place immediately place immediately after it is after it is ingested. ingested.

After the alcohol is absorbed into After the alcohol is absorbed into

the bloodstream, it circulates to the bloodstream, it circulates to

the watery organs—including the the watery organs—including the

brain, carried to the lungs, brain, carried to the lungs,

metabolizes in the liver and then metabolizes in the liver and then

is excreted out through breath, is excreted out through breath,

sweat and urine.sweat and urine.

AlcoholAlcoholThe amount of alcohol in the bloodstream is known as the BAC (blood-alcohol concentration) level.

One drink raises the BAC 0.015% to 0.02%

1 drink = 12oz. Beer = 6oz. Wine = 1 oz. hard liquor

AlcoholAlcohol The Physiological Effects of The Physiological Effects of

Alcohol on your Body Alcohol on your Body

EuphoriaEuphoria (BAC= 0.03 to 0.12%) (BAC= 0.03 to 0.12%)more self-confidentmore self-confidentpoor judgmentpoor judgmentshortened attention spanshortened attention spanbecome flushed with difficulty with become flushed with difficulty with

fine fine movementmovement

AlcoholAlcohol

ExcitementExcitement (BAC= 0.09 to 0.25%) (BAC= 0.09 to 0.25%)drowsinessdrowsinessdifficulty understanding or difficulty understanding or

rememberingrememberingslow reaction time, loss of balanceslow reaction time, loss of balance

ConfusionConfusion (BAC= 0.18 to 0.30%) (BAC= 0.18 to 0.30%)highly emotional--aggressive, highly emotional--aggressive,

withdrawn withdrawn or affectionateor affectionateslurred speechslurred speech

uncoordinated movementsuncoordinated movements

AlcoholAlcoholStuporStupor (BAC=0.25 to 0.40%) (BAC=0.25 to 0.40%)

barely move, cannot stand or walkbarely move, cannot stand or walkvomitingvomitingin and out of consciousnessin and out of consciousness

ComaComa (BAC= 0.35 to 0.50%) (BAC= 0.35 to 0.50%)unconsciousunconsciousshallow breathing, slow heart rateshallow breathing, slow heart rate

DeathDeath (BAC more than 0.50%) (BAC more than 0.50%)alcohol poisoningalcohol poisoning

AlcoholAlcoholSeveral factors may attribute to slowing Several factors may attribute to slowing

down the rate of absorption of alcohol:down the rate of absorption of alcohol:

1. Total time taken to consume the drink 1. Total time taken to consume the drink body absorbs and metabolizes 1 drink per body absorbs and metabolizes 1 drink per hourhour

2. The alcohol content of the beverage2. The alcohol content of the beverage

3. The amount consumed 3. The amount consumed one drink raises the BAC level to 0.02%one drink raises the BAC level to 0.02%

4. The quantity of food present in the 4. The quantity of food present in the stomach stomach the more food present, less the more food present, less absorptionabsorption

AlcoholAlcohol

As blood goes through the As blood goes through the lungs, some of the alcohol lungs, some of the alcohol moves across the moves across the membranes of the lungs’ membranes of the lungs’ aveoli, then out into the air.aveoli, then out into the air.

AlcoholAlcoholThere is a fixed ratio between the There is a fixed ratio between the amount of alcohol in the blood and the amount of alcohol in the blood and the amount of alcohol in the breath.amount of alcohol in the breath.

1ml blood= 2100ml breath alcohol1ml blood= 2100ml breath alcohol

There are several instruments to There are several instruments to measure the BAC in the breath:measure the BAC in the breath:

AlcoholAlcohol

Three major types of breath testing Three major types of breath testing devices:devices:

1.1. BreathalyzerBreathalyzer—when alcohol is present, —when alcohol is present, it causes a chemical reaction to produce it causes a chemical reaction to produce a color change.a color change.

2.2. IntoxilyzerIntoxilyzer—uses infrared spectroscopy—uses infrared spectroscopy

3.3. Alco-sensorAlco-sensor—a chemical reaction —a chemical reaction occurs within the fuel celloccurs within the fuel cell

AlcoholAlcohol BreathalyzerBreathalyzer

Developed by Dr. Robert Developed by Dr. Robert Borkenstein in 1954. Borkenstein in 1954.

A breathalyzer is a spectrophotometer that A breathalyzer is a spectrophotometer that has been specially designed to measure has been specially designed to measure the absorption of light passing through the the absorption of light passing through the potassium dichromate solution at a single potassium dichromate solution at a single wavelength.wavelength.

Simply, when you breathe into the device, Simply, when you breathe into the device, any alcohol present will dissolve the any alcohol present will dissolve the dichromate solution and destroy it. dichromate solution and destroy it. It is the extent of this destruction that It is the extent of this destruction that is measured in the Breathalyzer.is measured in the Breathalyzer.

AlcoholAlcohol IntoxilyzerIntoxilyzer

This is an infrared breath-This is an infrared breath- testing instrument in testing instrument in

which which infrared reacts with infrared reacts with the alcohol and causes the light to the alcohol and causes the light to decrease in intensity. The decrease is decrease in intensity. The decrease is measured by a photoelectric measured by a photoelectric detector.detector.

A microprocessor is inside to display A microprocessor is inside to display and print the results.and print the results.

Infrared Breath TesterInfrared Breath Tester

AlcoholAlcoholAlco-sensorAlco-sensor

The Alco-sensor uses a fuel cell to The Alco-sensor uses a fuel cell to convert alcohol into acetic acid to convert alcohol into acetic acid to generate an electrical current that is generate an electrical current that is proportional to the quantity of alcohol proportional to the quantity of alcohol present in the breath.present in the breath.

AlcoholAlcoholWhen a police officer When a police officer

suspects suspects a driver may be a driver may be intoxicated, a intoxicated, a number of number of field tests may be done to ascertain field tests may be done to ascertain the degree of the suspect’s physical the degree of the suspect’s physical impairment. impairment.

These include:These include:

Horizontal gaze nystagmusHorizontal gaze nystagmus

Walk and turnWalk and turn

One-leg stand One-leg stand

AlcoholAlcohol The standard BAC level in Georgia The standard BAC level in Georgia is .08is .08

If a suspect fails the sobriety test, and If a suspect fails the sobriety test, and has a BAC level of .08 or higher, they has a BAC level of .08 or higher, they will be deemed intoxicated, and will be deemed intoxicated, and arrested.arrested.

At the station, blood is collected At the station, blood is collected

and preserved, then analyzed for and preserved, then analyzed for

alcohol by gas chromatography.alcohol by gas chromatography.

If convicted of DUIIf convicted of DUI1.1. Can go to jail for up to 1 yearCan go to jail for up to 1 year2.2. Will do 40 hours of community serviceWill do 40 hours of community service3.3. Will pay a large fineWill pay a large fine4.4. Will lose driver’s license for 1-5 yearsWill lose driver’s license for 1-5 years5.5. Will attend DUI schoolWill attend DUI school6.6. Will pay reinstatement fee to get your Will pay reinstatement fee to get your

license license 7.7. Will pay higher insurance premiumsWill pay higher insurance premiums8.8. Might have an ignition interlock device Might have an ignition interlock device

on caron car9.9. Might turn in license plates of all Might turn in license plates of all

vehiclesvehicles10.10.Might have picture in paperMight have picture in paper11.11.Might attend alcohol counselingMight attend alcohol counseling

AlcoholAlcohol

Even those with a BAC level of Even those with a BAC level of 0.03 can cause accidents because of 0.03 can cause accidents because of poor judgment. poor judgment.

AlcoholAlcoholA BAC level of 0.08% creates A BAC level of 0.08% creates

4 times a greater chance of a crash.4 times a greater chance of a crash.

AlcoholAlcoholA BAC level of 0.16% creates A BAC level of 0.16% creates

25 times greater chance of a 25 times greater chance of a crash.crash.

AlcoholAlcohol