Blood alcohol levels in accident victims.

The purpose was to study the frequency and distribution of alcohol involvement in accident patients. Blood alcohol was determined gas chromatographically in 1012 accident patients. Alcohol was found to be present in 37% with the following distribution by blood alcohol concentrations (BAC): 0.1--0.5 g/litre 7%, 0.6--1.5 g/litre 13%, over 1.5 g/litre 16%. There were 702 males and 310 females. Alcohol was found in the blood in 43% of the males and in 24% of the females. In both sexes the age group 35--44 had the highest incidence. The rate of alcohol involvement increased with decreasing social status and was remarkably high (54%) among unskilled workers. High BACs were so prevalent that a causal relationship is most probable. Further studies on the causal relationship in nontraffic accidents are needed to be able to take sensible preventive measures among high risk groups.