Blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content (BAC), also known as blood alcohol concentration or blood alcohol level, is a measurement of the amount of alcohol (specifically, ethanol) in an individual's blood. It is usually expressed as a percentage by volume or by mass.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /blʌd ˈælkəhɔːl ˈkɒntɛnt/
Etymology
The term "blood alcohol content" is derived from the words "blood" (from Old English blōd), "alcohol" (from Arabic al-kuḥl), and "content" (from Latin contentus).
Definition
Blood alcohol content is used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes. It is usually expressed as a percentage of alcohol (generally in the form of ethanol) in units of mass of alcohol per volume of blood, or mass of alcohol per mass of blood, depending on the country.
Related Terms
Legal implications
In many jurisdictions, a certain BAC level is considered illegal while operating a motor vehicle, often referred to as drunk driving. The legal limit varies between countries and regions, but it is typically between 0.05% and 0.08%.
Medical implications
High BAC levels can lead to a variety of health risks, including alcohol poisoning, liver disease, and increased risk of accidents. Chronic high BAC levels can also lead to alcoholism and other long-term health problems.
Measurement
BAC can be measured directly via blood tests, or indirectly through breath tests using devices such as a breathalyzer. It can also be estimated via a BAC chart or calculator, which takes into account factors such as weight, gender, and the amount and type of alcohol consumed.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Blood alcohol content
- Wikipedia's article - Blood alcohol content
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski