The international literature reveals discrepancies regarding experimental and epidemiological evidence on the disabling role of blood alcohol concentration less than 50 mg per 100 mL, and variation is more pronounced in the case of subjects with different metabolisms. To obtain experimental evidence, the effects of low BACs on driving ability were investigated using 16 alcohol tolerating and non tolerating healthy volunteers, whose mean intake of ethyl alcohol was less than 0.5 and more than 1.5 g per kg per week. Neuropsychomotor functions were examined by correlation of GLC-HS serial dosages of ethyl alcohol in blood and saliva and computerized tests administered 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes after intake of lorazepam, alcohol or placebo. The tests explored various functions such as cerebral activation, eye-hand coordination, short-term serial memory, vigilance and discrimination of deviant stimuli. Results showed: alteration of some neuro-psychomotor functions which are important for driving, in both sample groups; significant functional variations between subjects tolerating and not tolerating ethyl alcohol; and good correlation of blood and saliva levels of ethyl alcohol. (A)
Abstract