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Related Experiment Videos

The Widmark formula for alcohol quantification.

I G Brouwer1

  • 1Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Stellenbosch. igb2@sun.ac.za

SADJ : Journal of the South African Dental Association = Tydskrif Van Die Suid-Afrikaanse Tandheelkundige Vereniging
|February 25, 2005
PubMed
Summary
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Widmark

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Science
  • Toxicology
  • Pharmacokinetics

Background:

  • Eric P Widmark developed Widmark formulae in 1932.
  • These formulae are used for alcohol calculation and concentration assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the reliability of Widmark formulae for back-calculations.
  • To assess the accuracy of estimating alcohol concentration at past times.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Widmark's original formulae.
  • Review of scientific literature on alcohol pharmacokinetics and back-calculation limitations.

Main Results:

  • Widmark formulae are unreliable for back-calculating alcohol ingestion or past concentrations.
  • Only gross approximations are possible, lacking scientific accuracy.

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Conclusions:

  • Attempts at accurate back-calculations using Widmark formulae are scientifically unfounded.
  • Emphasize the inherent limitations and inaccuracies in retrospective alcohol estimations.