• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.49-60
• /
• 2008

The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of the blood.breath ratio (BBR) value and to rationalize the determination of ethanol in breath for evidential sobriety testing. In the experiment forty eight healthy persons, 24 men and 24 women, took part. The experiment included the experimental condition such as sex(2),the type of alcoholic beverage(2; soju, whisky), the type of food(2;kimchi stew, pork belly) and the amount of ethanol consumed(2; 0.35g/kg, 0.70g/kg, based on body weight ) according to 24 factorial design by orthogonal arrays. Breath and blood sample were taken each 8 times and 5 times after the end of drinking. The blood and breath alcohol measurements were highly correlated (r = 0.973). The Results of four way analyses of variance revealed a significant 'the type of food' effect for maximum BrAC (F (1, 43) =5.1, pp<.029), but no significant effect in the type of alcoholic beverage and sex. The overall blood/breath ratio (${\pm}$ SD) was 2295${\pm}$403 and the 95% confidence interval were 1489 and 3101. In spite of these variations, at this time, it seems to be reasonable that apply 2100:1 conversion factor to breathalyzers, because most of the subjects showed the blood.breath ratio of over 2100:1 at least 30 minutes or more passed from the time of drinking as shown in this study.