Citation

Slemeyer A. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 1981; 1981: 456-468.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The diffusion processes of ethanol in the respiratory system are analyzed and simulated in a model consisting of 3-compartments with lumped parameters. The areas of exchange are differentiated into the alveolar space, the upper respiratory tract and the mouth-throat cavity. The underlying processes such as diffusion through membranes, air mixing and convection of ethanol gas are approximated by numerical equations processed through a digital computer using the ventilation as loop controlling variable. The parameters of the model were optimized by direct comparison of its behaviour with measured time courses of alcohol concentration obtained in drinking experiments. From these data "standard parameters" were derived and used for studying the influence of ventilation on the breath alcohol concentration. In this way it can be shown that the micin layer on the respiratory duct is heavily involved in ethanol-exchange during respiration. (TRRL)