When an individual drinks alcohol in large quantities, the only thing to do is wait for the liver to eliminate the excess ethanol. However, Canadian researchers recently presented a mask whose operation is based on hyperventilation. This device allows the alcohol to be evacuated more quickly through the lungs.
In case of excess alcohol, our liver has difficulty eliminating it, which leads to an increase in the blood alcohol level. In general, this rate reaches its maximum in thirty minutes on an empty stomach and twice as long during a meal. Then, the blood alcohol level decreases from 0.1 g to 0.15 g per hour depending on the individual. The liver largely manages the elimination of alcohol, but the lungs also contribute. The fact is that blood saturated with alcohol is evacuated at the same time than carbon dioxide when it enters the lungs.
There are few ways to accelerate the elimination of alcohol from the body. However, researchers from the University of Toronto (Canada) say they have developed a device in this direction. Their publication in the journal Scientific Reports on November 12, 2020 presents a revolutionary mask:the ClearMate. The latter allows a faster elimination of alcohol through hyperventilation. By increasing the frequency of breathing, the individual will eliminate CO2, and therefore alcohol more quickly.
By eliminating too much CO2 at the same time, hyperventilation can still cause hypocapnia . This is a decrease in CO2 pressure in the blood, the consequences of which are worrying:tremors, dizziness, dyspnea, restlessness, heart palpitations. In the most severe cases, tetany and loss of consciousness may occur. However, the researchers seem to have thought of everything. Indeed, the ClearMate mask triggers hyperventilation, but also provides a supply of oxygen and CO2 , allowing the blood gas balance to be restored.
According to the researchers, a mechanical valve allows the supply of CO2, the excess of which will be returned on the next expiration. There is therefore no need for a computer or electrical devices. So far, five people have tested the device. They absorbed a dose of 250 ml of vodka at 80° diluted in 500 ml of water. The goal was to increase their blood alcohol level by 0.1%. Next, the researchers measured blood alcohol levels after the natural alcohol elimination process. The same operation was repeated with the wearing of a mask for half an hour. According to the results, the mask eliminates alcohol three times faster than usual.
Scientists originally worked on this ClearMate mask to treat carbon monoxide poisoning. However, the latter is effective in the case of severe alcohol poisoning and could treat alcoholic comas. Finally, you should know that the mask has already received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019.
