In this investigation the authors examined material that covers a population of over two million citizens, analyzing a period of six years, from 1989 to 1994. During this period more than 6000 autopsies have been performed, of which approximately 21 percent were cadavers from traffic accidents. The Institute is also the reference laboratory for the determination of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for all traffic participants. The equipment used was the Hewlett Packard 5790A Gas Chromatography. During a six-year period, over 1200 cadavers from traffic accidents were autopsied and 36.3 percent of them had a positive BAC. And most of them had a BAC below 0.5 g/kg (62 percent), under 2.5 g/kg had 33 percent g/kg had 33 percent and above 2.5 g/kg had 5 percent. The high level of positive blood samples in all traffic participants is obviously one of the main reasons for traffic accidents. Many consequences in the medical, social and economical spheres are undoubtedly warning sign. (A)
Abstract