Response of Breath-Alcohol Analyzers to Acetone: Further Studies

Abstract

Seven quantitative evidential breath-alcohol analyzers in three categories of analytical principle were tested for response to dynamically generated vapor acetone concentrations of 3, 100, 150, 350, and 600 micrograms/L and to alcohol-acetone vapor mixtures of 0.10 g alcohol/210 L and 350 or 600 micrograms acetone/L. No significant interference by acetone at any of these concentrations was found in four of the tested instruments. Two devices employing single wavelength infrared spectrometry displayed no unacceptable responses to acetone in concentrations to 350 micrograms/L, and one device employing solid-state (Taguchi) sensing was found to be significantly sensitive to acetone at the two highest tested concentrations. Except for the latter device, response to acetone of those instruments tested is not considered to be a significant problem in breath-alcohol analysis for traffic law enforcement or other purposes.