Cognitive Performance, Mood States, and Altitude Symptomatology in 13- 21% Oxygen Environments
Abstract
To reduce the risk of and damage from fires, naval engineers have suggested reducing the oxygen concentration in submarines below the normal ambient level of 21% (PO2 = 159 torr). However, reductions to 13% oxygen (PO2 = 99 torr) may produce decrements in mental and physical performance, changes in mood states, or symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS). To investigate these possibilities, thirteen male sailors were confined and tested in a hypobaric chamber for fifteen days, where they experienced oxygen concentrations of 21, 17, 21, 13, and 21% for three days at each concentrations with 0.9% carbon dioxide and the balance nitrogen. The subjects took one 30-minute battery of cognitive tasks most mornings and a different 30-minute battery of cognitive tasks every afternoon. They also completed the Clyde Mood Scale and the Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire (ESQ) every afternoon following cognitive testing. It appears that normobaric oxygen concentrations as low as 17% are not likely to produce adverse effects on cognition, mood states, or AMS symptomatology. Oxygen concentrations as low as 13% are likely to adversely affect some performance tasks and moods, however, as well as induce AMS in about one-third of the exposed individuals. These effects are quite similar to those observed in mountain climbers at the same PO2, whose responses well may be predictive of the effects of oxygen concentrations in between 13 and 17% oxygen.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA198816
Entities
People
- A. Cymerman
- B. L. Shukitt
- D. R. Knight
- L. E. Banderet
- R. L. Burse
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine