Human Decompression Trial in Nitrogen-Oxygen Diving

Abstract

A trial was performed to assess the relative risks of oxygen and nitrogen in human no-decompression dives. Dives (n=477) were performed with subjects breathing mixtures with low or high oxygen partial pressures. Dives were 30, 60, or 240 min in duration to various depths chosen by a sequential dose-response format. Despite exceeding the currently accepted safe limits by more than 20 percent, the incidence of demonstrable DCS was under 3 percent. Another 3 percent had ambiguous symptoms. An increase in DCS risk with higher N2 pressure could not be strongly demonstrated. Oxygen had less than half of the DCS risk associated with nitrogen.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 26, 1986
Accession Number
ADA180646

Entities

People

  • B. L. Hart
  • E. T. Flynn
  • P. K. Weathersby
  • W. F. Walker

Organizations

  • Naval Medical Research Center

Tags

Readers

  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.