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[Falsification of breath alcohol concentration measurement. An experimental and case report]
H Kijewski1, R Sprung, A Eggert
1Abteilung Rechtsmedizin, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.
Abstract:
As a rule, in our comparison of breath alcohol and blood alcohol concentration levels both readings were in agreement. Nevertheless, we repeatedly observed readings showing significant differences for which there was no apparent explanation. In two cases where discrepancies were extreme (breath alcohol concentration greater than 2.0%; blood alcohol concentration, 0.0%) we discovered that the cause was sniffing. The effects of various pharmaceutical drugs were tested. Experimentally the inhalation of liquid gas resulted in ostensible breath alcohol concentration levels of more than 2%. These experiments were reproducible. Consequences for the exployment of alcohol breath testing devices are discussed.