Ethanol distribution in the body
If the rate of ethanol consumption exceeds the rate of metabolism, ethanol will be distributed throughout the body. Watch the video below for some information and a demonstration of how to estimate blood alcohol concentration. Then click the “more” link for a problem you can solve on your own.
Click below for a larger, better quality version of the video:
Ethanol distribution
Solve the following problem:
The lethal concentration of ethanol in blood is approximately 0.35%. How many pints of oatmeal stout (7.2% alcohol by volume) would supply a lethal dose for a 165 pound person? Assume complete resorption of consumed ethanol with no metabolism. The density of ethanol is 0.79 kg/L.
Is it realistic to assume complete resorption and no metabolism?
-Jane Student
Comment by andy — July 21, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
Jane– If the drinks are consumed rapidly, the blood alcohol level will peak about an hour after consumption, and then metabolism will cause the level to decline linearly. The examples shown will calculate a theoretical maximum blood alcohol concentration, and should be pretty accurate at the time of peak concentration.
-The Instructor
Comment by andy — July 21, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
Is the answer to the example problem 4.6 pints?
-Tom Student
Comment by andy — July 21, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
No Tom, remember 1 pint equals 0.5 liters.
-The Instructor
Comment by andy — July 21, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Oh yeah– how about 9.2 pints?
-Tom Student
Comment by andy — July 21, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
The answer is 9.2 pints.
-The Instructor
Comment by andy — July 21, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Is this where babies come from?
-MudDuck Student
Comment by MudDuck — July 30, 2007 @ 1:26 pm