Breathalyzer Breakers

Breathalyzer Breakers Logs and Draft for Final Written Report A look into the nagging question, “Can you Break the Breath Test?”

Joseph Szymborski

Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Table of Contents Introduction……………………………………………………………..…3

Background Research……………………………………………………...4

Materials…………………………………………………………………...5

Hypothesis…………………………………………………………………6

Procedure………………………………………………………………......7

Results……………………………………………………………………...8

Discussion…………………………………………………………...….....9

Conclusion………………………………………………………………..10

Bibliography…………………………….................................................12

Appendix A............................................................................................13

Appendix B............................................................................................15

Appendix C............................................................................................21

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Introduction This project was built on one idea: Perhaps it is possible to get a false reading off a breathalyzer. That is that while driving under the influence, whether something the driver intentionally or unintentionally ingested would give a false reading on the official’s breathalyzer test. Many claims have been made, including of the latest and famous statement that a penny, if sucked on, may produce a false negative reading.

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Background Research While experimenting, it was crucial to understand both how the breath test works and how the roadside are carried out.

One of the most important pieces of information is that there are three different types of breath tests, all of witch are used as tools for police all around North America and Europe. They all function differently, and therefore can be susceptible false readings with different substances. This greatly changed the original plans for the procedure. The Breathalyser works with a chemical indicator. Intoxilyzer uses spectroscopy, the science of using laser beams (in this case infrared) to detect molecules. Alco Sensor use an electronic fuel cell to detect alcohol molecules.

Also, it was learned that the breath test works on one main concept, the content of alcohol in the blood is relative to that in the breath. This means that the breath test is testing the amount of alcohol there is in your blood stream. A good example of this concept is to imagine a person who gargled some wine. This person would not test positive for alcohol on any breath-test.

Breath tests give out a reading in BAC [Blood Alcohol Content]. For a person to be legally Driving Under the Influence [DUI], a person’s BAC level must be over 0.08%.

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Materials Mouthwash -

500 ml of Scope® Original Mint Antibacterial Mouthwash

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500 ml of Option+® Peppermint Antibacterial Mouthwash

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250 ml of Original Listerine® Antiseptic Mouthwash

Toothpaste -

75 ml of Crest® Cavity Protection Toothpaste

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75 ml of Colgate® Cavity Protection Toothpaste

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90 ml of AquaFresh® Extreme Clean™ PowerWhite™ Toothpaste

Breath Mints -

14 pieces of Mentos™ Chewy Dragees Mint

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22 pieces of Halls® Original Strongs Mints

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18 g of Tic-Tac® Original Mints

Chemicals -

Silver Nitrate

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Potassium Dichromate

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Sulfuric Acid

Portable Breathalyzer -

Collectables® Potable Alcohol Tester

Intoxilyzer Model -

12” by 11” Particle Board

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PVC pipe with a 4” diameter and 11” in length

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Transparent House 10”

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Plastic container with removable top

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Laser pointer

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Hypothesis The most probable item to set off the breath test is the mouthwash, more specifically the Listerine. It includes alcohol and is the harshest tasting of them all. It is applied by gargling so the mouthwash may leave so traces in the tongue and cheek tissue. Alcohol gives off vapors so that may give a very high reading for breathalyzer.

The second most probable item to set off the breath test is the mints, more specifically the Original Halls. They include the ‘menthol-lyptus’.

The third most probable item to set off the breath test is toothpaste because of the way it’s brushed on the teeth. This means that the substance will have traces in the mouth for a longer time. The fluoride is still on your teeth after you rinse, and may conflict with the breathalyzer or Intoxilyzer.

As for masking the breath test, the most likely is any one of the toothpaste. The fluoride in the toothpaste prevents bacteria from creating acid, witch may conflict with the sulfuric acid in the breathalyzer.

The second most probable item to mask the breath test is the mints, more specifically the Mentos. Mentos are made of two layers, the outer one crunchy, and the second chewy. The second layer leaves a lot of residue between your teeth, letting it interfere longer with the breath test.

The third most probable item to mask the breath test is the mouthwash, because it has alcohol, witch may, or may not give you a positive reading, even if you have not consumed alcohol.

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Procedure Four subjects were used for these experiments to make the results more valid. Two of the subjects were male, and two of them were female. The Subject consumes 3 glasses (120 ml) of the same Wine (12% Alcohol Content) witch gives an approximate reading of 0.042% BAC (Blood Alcohol Content). A quick breath test validates his BAC. Then, quickly, the subject applies a selected test item. He/She then firsts completes a portable breathalyzer test. After the first test, the subject then completes the home-made chemical indicator solution.

To test the masking ability of the test items, the sober subjects applied the test item. He/She then firsts completes a portable breathalyzer test. After the first test, the subject then completes the home-made chemical indicator solution.

This procedure can only be carried out once a day for accurate results since it takes time for the digestive tract to clear and for the blood system to eliminate the alcohol. Each of the test items goes through the procedure three times each. According to research, mouthwash, breath mints and toothpaste seemed to be the main culprits of the public’s suspicion as to what may give off a false reading on a breathalyzer test. To get a more valid result, we used three different brands of each test subject.

To better understand how the breathalyzer works a Model was created to better demonstrate. Also, to be taken in consideration is the fact that there are different methods of testing breath for alcohol. The three devices used for finding out a person’s BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) are: Breathalyzer, Intoxilyzer and Alcosensor III or IV. An officer of the law could be using anyone of these devices depending on the state/provincial department. To replicate the breathalyzer, a chemical indicator solution was made. To replicate the Alcosensor and the Intoxilyzer, a commercial Portable Alcohol Tester.

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski The solution made to replicate a breathalyzer consisted of 1.984g Silver Nitrate [AgNo3], 1.961g of Potassium Dichromate [K2Cr2O7] and 26ml of Sulfuric Acid [H2SO4].

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Results After completing the experiment there was no hint of any of the test items masking or setting off a breath test. All the tests were completed as explained in the procedure. Please see Appendix B Figure 1.1 until Figure 2.3

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Discussion A large misconception about breath tests is that the test is to solely measure the alcohol in the breath. The reality is that the breath test is built on the concept that the amount of alcohol in the breath is relative to that in the blood. So in actuality, the test is made to measure the blood alcohol content (also known as BAC). Even if you add something to the breath, the alcohol does not go away.

Perhaps, one way to trick a breath test is to add something to the blood system that would absorb the alcohol. There are to ways to get something into the blood system, by injection or by ingestion.

However, if the subject would use ingestion, it would interfere with the spirit of the project seeing as it would take a considerable amount of time for it to enter the bloodstream. On the other hand, injection would be terribly unpractical and almost impossible to complete safely while intoxicated not to mention suspicious to a officer of the law.

The results did not support the hypothesis in the least. None of the items in the hypothesis expected to mask or set off the breath test turned out the opposite of the prediction.

The main source of error was the time between the test and when the test item was applied. Also, there is a possibility that the same wine used for every experiment could have slightly changed over the testing period.

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Conclusion The data from the experiment and observations of the functions of a breathalyzer show that there is absolutely no way to mask alcohol by any of the popular belief.

The hypothesis was therefore proven wrong. It stated that the most likely to mask would be toothpaste (Page 6, Paragraph 4) and that the most likely to set-off the breath test to be the Listerine Mouthwash (Page 6, Paragraph 1).

Although in some ways, the hypothesis was correct. It stated that the least likely to mask would be the Listerine Mouthwash (Page 6, Paragraph 6) and that the least likely to set-off the breath test to be the toothpaste (Page 6, Paragraph 3). All of witch proved to be true.

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Bibliography

Altamonte, Diego. Chemist and Head of Quality Control Schering Pharmaceutical New Jersey. October 29, 2006. “Breath Testing” World Book Online Reference Center. 2006. Loyola. October 2, 2006. http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar726462. Bullers, Susan; Ennis, Melissa “Effects Of Bac Feedbac On Bac Estimates.” eLibrary ProQuest. 2006. Loyola. October 2, 2006. Craig C. Freudenrich. “How Breathalyzers Work?.” How Stuff Works. 14/10/06. http://science.howstuffworks.com/breathalyzer.htm.

2006.

David J. Hanson PhD. “Breathalyzer / Breath-Testing Accuracy Facts & Information.” Alcohol Problems and Solutions. 2005. 14/10/06. http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/drivingissues/1106182337.html. Hyde, Margaret O. Know About Alcohol. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978. Jones, Kenneth L. ; Sheinberg, Louis W. ; Byre, Curtis O. Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1970. Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Office Clip Art. January 21, 2007 Schomp, Gerald. Alcohol, Its use, abuse & Therapy. Illinois: Our Sunday Visitor, 1977.

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Appendix A Figure 1.1 Logs that were taken down throughout the experimental process DATE: September 30th SUMMARY: Thought of introducing different brands into the testing. DATE: October 13th SUMMARY: Put together a PowerPoint based on my plans for the Preliminary Presentation. DATE: October 22th SUMMARY: Visited the Library and found two books which are very insightful. DATE: October 23rd SUMMARY: ‘Surfed’ the net for more sources. Found rupissed.com and found out that we will need different test subjects DATE: October 25th SUMMARY: Scheduled Mentor Interview for December 3rd and completed my Bibliography which is ready to submit. DATE: October 31st SUMMARY: Bought a Portable Alcohol Test witch will most definitely be a large part of the project DATE: December 6th SUMMARY: I have chosen my test subjects and chosen the different test items based on an internet search. I’ve yet still to chose the brands DATE: December 8th SUMMARY: Chosen the brands for the test items and drew out the spread sheets. DATE: December 13th SUMMARY: Received the chemicals for the plan I found on the internet. I have only Mrs. Marshall to thank for the chemicals DATE: December 15th SUMMARY: Went to local pharmacy to buy all the items needed for the testing. DATE: December 20th SUMMARY: Got through the A Brands for the Mouthwash trials. DATE: December 26th

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski SUMMARY: Got through the B Brands for the Mouthwash trials and I drew up some plans for a model of an Intoxilyzer. DATE: December 30th SUMMARY: Got through the C Brand for the Mouthwash trials and got the particleboard, PVC tubing, and the fiber-glass needed for the model DATE: January 4th SUMMARY: Got through the A Brand for the Toothpaste trials and got the fan and battery pack DATE: January 7th SUMMARY: Got through the B and C Brand for the Toothpaste trials and cut the PVC Tubing, Particle-Board and Fiber-Glass DATE: January 11th SUMMARY: Got through the A and B Brand for the Toothpaste trials and hit some rocky parts in the model DATE: January 12th SUMMARY: Got through the B Brand for the Mint trials and made some changes to the model plans DATE: January 14th SUMMARY: Finished building the model. Only have to rent the Fog Machine.

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Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Appendix B Figure 1.1 These trials use mouthwash as the test item. These trials were made to test what may setoff a breath test. Please refer to the legend on the spreadsheet for details.

Mouthwash A Trials

RAW DATA M1 Brand A Brand A Brand A M2 Brand A Brand A Brand A F1 Brand A Brand A Brand A F2 Brand A Brand A Brand A M1

M2

F1

F2

M1

M2

F1

F2

Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C

Test A Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative

Test B Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative

AVERAGED DATA Brand A Brand B Brand C

Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative

Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative

F2:

Legend Brand A: Brand B: Brand C: M1: M2: F1:

Test A Negative Negative Negative

Listerine Scope Option+ First Male Subject Second Male Subject First Female Subject Second Female Subject

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Test B Negative Negative Negative

Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Figure 1.2 These trials use toothpaste as the test item. These trials were made to test what may setoff a breath test. Please refer to the legend on the spreadsheet for details.

Toothpaste A Trials

RAW DATA M1 Brand A Brand A Brand A M2 Brand A Brand A Brand A F1 Brand A Brand A Brand A F2 Brand A Brand A Brand A M1 Brand B Brand B Brand B M2 Brand B Brand B Brand B F1 Brand B Brand B Brand B F2 Brand B Brand B Brand B M1 Brand C Brand C Brand C M2 Brand C Brand C Brand C F1 Brand C Brand C Brand C F2 Brand C Brand C Brand C

Test A Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative

Test B Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative

AVERAGED DATA Brand A Brand B Brand C Legend Brand A Brand B Brand C M1 M2 F1 F2

Test A Negative Negative Negative

Crest Colgate AquaFresh First Male Subject Second Male Subject First Female Subject Second Female Subject

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Test B Negative Negative Negative

Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Figure 1.3 These trials use mints as the test item. These trials were made to test what may set-off a breath test. Please refer to the legend on the spreadsheet for details.

Mint A Trials

RAW DATA M1 Brand A Brand A Brand A M2 Brand A Brand A Brand A F1 Brand A Brand A Brand A F2 Brand A Brand A Brand A

Test A Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative

Test B Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative

M1

Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative

Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative

M2

F1

F2

M1

M2

F1

F2

Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand B Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C Brand C

AVERAGED DATA Brand A Brand B Brand C

Legend Brand A Brand B Brand C M1 M2 F1 F2

Test A Negative Negative Negative

Halls Mentos Tic-Tac First Male Subject Second Male Subject First Female Subject Second Female Subject

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Test B Negative Negative Negative

Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Figure 2.1 These trials use mouthwash as the test item. These trials were made to test what may mask breath test. Please refer to the legend on the spreadsheet for details.

Mouthwash B Trials

RAW DATA M1 Brand A Brand A Brand A M2 Brand A Brand A Brand A F1 Brand A Brand A Brand A F2 Brand A Brand A Brand A M1 Brand B Brand B Brand B M2 Brand B Brand B Brand B F1 Brand B Brand B Brand B F2 Brand B Brand B Brand B M1 Brand C Brand C Brand C M2 Brand C Brand C Brand C F1 Brand C Brand C Brand C F2 Brand C Brand C Brand C

Test A Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive

Test B Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive

AVERAGED DATA Brand A Brand B Brand C

Legend Brand A Brand B Brand C M1 M2 F1 F2

Test A Positive Positive Positive

Listerine Scope Option+ First Male Subject Second Male Subject First Female Subject Second Female Subject

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Test B Positive Positive Positive

Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Figure 2.2 These trials use Toothpaste as the test item. These trials were made to test what may mask breath test. Please refer to the legend on the spreadsheet for details.

Toothpaste B Trials

RAW DATA M1 Brand A Brand A Brand A M2 Brand A Brand A Brand A F1 Brand A Brand A Brand A F2 Brand A Brand A Brand A M1 Brand B Brand B Brand B M2 Brand B Brand B Brand B F1 Brand B Brand B Brand B F2 Brand B Brand B Brand B M1 Brand C Brand C Brand C M2 Brand C Brand C Brand C F1 Brand C Brand C Brand C F2 Brand C Brand C Brand C

Test A Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive

Test B Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive

AVERAGED DATA Brand A Brand B Brand C Legend Brand A Brand B Brand C M1 M2 F1 F2

Test A Positive Positive Positive

Crest Colgate AquaFresh First Male Subject Second Male Subject First Female Subject Second Female Subject

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Test B Positive Positive Positive

Breaking the Breath Test ● Joseph Szymborski

Figure 2.3 These trials use Mint as the test item. These trials were made to test what may mask breath test. Please refer to the legend on the spreadsheet for details.

Mint A Trials

RAW DATA M1 Brand A Brand A Brand A M2 Brand A Brand A Brand A F1 Brand A Brand A Brand A F2 Brand A Brand A Brand A M1 Brand B Brand B Brand B M2 Brand B Brand B Brand B F1 Brand B Brand B Brand B F2 Brand B Brand B Brand B M1 Brand C Brand C Brand C M2 Brand C Brand C Brand C F1 Brand C Brand C Brand C F2 Brand C Brand C Brand C

Test A Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive

Test B Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive

AVERAGED DATA Brand A Brand B Brand C

Legend Brand A Brand B Brand C M1 M2 F1 F2

Test A Positive Positive Positive

Halls Tic-Tac Mentos First Male Subject Second Male Subject First Female Subject Second Female Subject

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Test B Positive Positive Positive