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Police are only on the road to keep us and other drivers safe. That's the bottom line. Their job is to ensure safety, and one of the tools they use is the Breathalyzer. Like everything in this world, though, it too can make mistakes.
What is a Breathalyzer?
A Breathalyzer is a device that measures chemicals in a person's breath and, more specifically, the BAL, or blood alcohol level. The blood alcohol level is the measurement, in percent, of the alcohol level per milliliter of blood. The legal driving limits vary from state to state.
How Does It Work?
It is important to note that alcohol is not digested; it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream until it is evaporated in the lungs as it passes through the circulatory system. The actual Breathalyzer device consists of a straw 'collector' and an assortment of chemicals that break down any alcohol collected. Based on the chemical reaction between the alcohol and the chemicals inside, the device determines your blood alcohol level using a simple mathematical equation.
Diabetic Misreadings
Breathalyzers work based on the level ethyl alcohol in the blood. However, breathalyzers can be confused by a similar compound, Acetone, which could result in a misread. A Maryland lawyer reports that a diabetic's Breathalyzer readings can be misconstrued by the large amount of acetone in the body. This occurs when a diabetic has not received enough insulin, so the bodies have started to break down fat, releasing acetone.
Mouth Alcohol Misreadings
You are exposed to more alcohol than you may think. Other ways a breathalyzer can be thrown off can be as simple as the food you're eating or what you use to clean your teeth. Mout wash containing alcohol has been proven to throw off readings, as well as food or by-products from digestion. The Breathalyzer assumes that all air it is measuring is coming from the lungs, which it is designed to measure, and it doesn't take into consideration air from the mouth or from the stomach, such as a burp.
Environmental Misreadings
Your environment, whether you know it or not, plays a heavy role in a Breathalyzer reading. Let's say, just for a moment, that you work as a painter or work in a factory around certain methyl compounds. Those have a huge impact on a reading, as they can be absorbed through the skin. And you may not even know it, according to Drugcrimes.com.
Tags: alcohol level, blood alcohol, blood alcohol level, break down,