Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 25, 2026
05:40
The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
Published on: April 28, 2022
3.5K
Breath/Blood Alcohol Concentration as an Indicator of Alcohol Use Problems
Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance
|April 27, 2019
Summary
Driving under the influence (DUI) convictions can indicate alcohol problems in pilots. This study developed a tool to estimate consumed drinks from blood alcohol concentration (BAC), aiding in identifying pilots needing alcohol treatment.
Area of Science:
- Aviation Medicine
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Aerospace Medicine (AAM) must identify pilots with driving under the influence (DUI) convictions.
- Assessing pilot alcohol consumption is crucial for public safety and requires identifying those with potential drinking problems.
- Current guidelines suggest a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15 g/dL may indicate alcohol tolerance, warranting treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for estimating the number of alcoholic drinks consumed based on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or breath alcohol concentration (BrAC).
- To assess the utility of DUI/DWI alcohol levels in identifying pilots with problematic drinking behaviors.
- To determine if body weight influences the relationship between alcohol concentration and the number of drinks consumed.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Clinician's Guide risk criteria (men: 5+ drinks/day, women: 4+ drinks/day, BAC ≥ 0.08 g/dL).
- Developed a spreadsheet tool incorporating ethanol's volume of distribution and individual body weight to estimate drinks consumed from BAC/BrAC.
- Analyzed DUI/DWI alcohol concentrations in relation to estimated drinks consumed and body weight.
Main Results:
- DUI/DWI alcohol concentrations can effectively determine the minimum number of drinks consumed.
- Individuals with higher body weight reach binge drinking levels at lower DUI/DWI concentrations compared to average or lower weight individuals.
- The developed tool demonstrates a high probability (99.7%) of accurately identifying binge drinkers.
Conclusions:
- A tool estimating consumed drinks from BAC/BrAC, considering body weight, can reliably identify pilots with alcohol problems.
- This method aids the FAA in fulfilling its legal mandate to assess pilot fitness for duty concerning alcohol use.
- Identifying and treating pilots with alcohol problems mitigates risks to themselves and the public.
Related Concept Videos
02:37Oxidation of Alcohols
15.8K
In this lesson, the oxidation of alcohols is discussed in depth. The various reagents used for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols are detailed, and their mechanism of action is provided.
The process of oxidation in a chemical reaction is observed in any of the three forms:
The process of oxidation in a chemical reaction is observed in any of the three forms:
15.8K
02:29Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis
12.8K
Overview
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.
12.8K
02:31Protection of Alcohols
8.0K
This lesson delves into the concept of protection and deprotection of a functional group fundamental to synthetic organic chemistry. These phenomena are explained in the context of aliphatic and aromatic alcohols.
Protection
It defines a protecting group as the masking agent to make the more reactive species inert to a given set of conditions. This concept is depicted via the illustration of liquid flow through different outlets in an assembly of pipes. The analogy helps to understand the role...
Protection
It defines a protecting group as the masking agent to make the more reactive species inert to a given set of conditions. This concept is depicted via the illustration of liquid flow through different outlets in an assembly of pipes. The analogy helps to understand the role...
8.0K
01:38Preparation of Alcohols via Substitution Reactions
7.3K
Overview
Alcohols can be synthesized from alkyl halides via nucleophilic substitution reactions. The highly polar carbon-halogen bond in the substrate makes halide a good leaving group. The hydroxide ion or water can act as a nucleophile to take the place of halide and form an alcohol. The substitution reactions occur via two different reaction pathways, SN1 or SN2, depending on the nature of carbon attached to the halide.
Primary alcohols are synthesized from primary alkyl halides, and the...
Alcohols can be synthesized from alkyl halides via nucleophilic substitution reactions. The highly polar carbon-halogen bond in the substrate makes halide a good leaving group. The hydroxide ion or water can act as a nucleophile to take the place of halide and form an alcohol. The substitution reactions occur via two different reaction pathways, SN1 or SN2, depending on the nature of carbon attached to the halide.
Primary alcohols are synthesized from primary alkyl halides, and the...
7.3K
01:17Esters to Alcohols: Hydride Reductions
4.7K
Esters are reduced to primary alcohols when treated with a strong reducing agent like lithium aluminum hydride. The reaction requires two equivalents of the reducing agent and proceeds via an aldehyde intermediate.
Lithium aluminum hydride is a source of hydride ions and functions as a nucleophile. The mechanism proceeds in three steps. Firstly, the nucleophilic hydride ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the ester to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Subsequently, the carbonyl group re-forms,...
Lithium aluminum hydride is a source of hydride ions and functions as a nucleophile. The mechanism proceeds in three steps. Firstly, the nucleophilic hydride ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the ester to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Subsequently, the carbonyl group re-forms,...
4.7K
01:08Esters to Alcohols: Grignard Reaction
6.0K
The reaction of an ester with a Grignard reagent, followed by hydrolysis of the magnesium alkoxide salt in aqueous acid, yields a tertiary alcohol. In the case of formate esters, secondary alcohols are formed.
The reaction requires two equivalents of the Grignard reagent and introduces two identical alkyl groups, derived from the Grignard reagent, bonded to the hydroxyl-bearing carbon of the alcohol.
The reaction follows the typical nucleophilic acyl substitution mechanism. The Grignard...
The reaction requires two equivalents of the Grignard reagent and introduces two identical alkyl groups, derived from the Grignard reagent, bonded to the hydroxyl-bearing carbon of the alcohol.
The reaction follows the typical nucleophilic acyl substitution mechanism. The Grignard...
6.0K