EFFECTS ON MAN OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO OXYGEN AT A TOTAL PRESSURE OF 190 MM. HG
Abstract
Four 17-day experiments were conducted on healthy pilots in the two- man space cabin simulator. Total pressure averaged 192 mm. Hg; partial pressure of oxygen, 174 mm. Hg. This atmosphere was reasonably well tolerated by all test subjects. The symptoms consisted of irritation of the upper respiratory tract, aural atelectasis, and eye irritation. Postexperimentally, 2 of the 8 subjects demonstrated reduced arterial oxygen saturation immediately. Pictures, however, gave no x-ray evidence of pulmonary atelectasis. The incidence of baropathies following decompression from 750 mm. Hg to 190 mm. Hg exceeded 50% (5 of 8 subjects), even following 2 to 3 hours of preoxygenation. The utilization of an atmosphere consisting of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor at total pressure of 190 mm. Hg appears to be physiologically feasible, at least for 17 days. Care must be taken to overcome the problem of bends during the initial decompression and to insure that engineering gains are sufficiently great to offset the symptoms noted in these studies. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0423948
Entities
People
- B. E. Welch
- Ralph G. Cutler
- Thomas E. Morgan Jr.
Organizations
- United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine