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Undersea Biomed Res

Title:		Symptomatology during hypoxic exposure to flame-retardant chamber atmospheres
Author(s):		Knight DR; Cymerman A; Devine JA; Burse RL; Fulco CS; Rock PB; Tappan DV; Messier AA; Carhart H;
Address:		"Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, Naval Submarine Base, Groton, CT 06349-5900"
Journal Title:		Undersea Biomed Res
Year:		1990
Volume:		17
Issue:		1
Page Number:		33 - 44
DOI:
ISSN/ISBN:		0093-5387 (Print) 0093-5387 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Hypoxia was studied in 12 men during 63-h exposures to 17 and 13% O2, with the subjects serving as their own controls by repeating the measurements in 21% O2. All test atmospheres were contaminated with 0.9% CO2 to simulate the condition of living aboard submarines. The mean SaO2's were 97-98% in all conditions of 21% O2, 96% in 17% O2 (n.s.), and 92% in 13% O2 (P less than 0.05). The blood concentrations of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate were elevated in 13 and 17% O2 (P less than 0.05). Seventeen percent O2 did not cause significant symptoms of environmental stress; however, 13% O2 caused symptoms of acute mountain sickness in 5 of 12 men. In the last 7 h of exposure to 17% O2, reduction of the barometric pressure to 576 Torr reduced the ambient PO2 to 98 Torr (similar to the PO2 of 13% O2 at normobaric pressure). This induced symptoms of acute mountain sickness in 3 of 11 men. All symptomatology and physiologic changes were reversed during recovery in 21% O2. Monitoring devices indicated the presence of volatile organic contaminants at a mean concentration of 6.1 ppm in the chamber atmosphere. Combustion tests in the occupied chamber showed that flame propagation was retarded by lowering the O2 concentration from 21 to 13-17%. We conclude that men can live comfortably in a normobaric, flame-retardant atmosphere consisting of 17% O2-0.9% CO2-6.1 ppm volatile organic compounds-balance N2"
Keywords:		"2, 3-Diphosphoglycerate Adult Altitude Sickness/etiology Atmosphere Carbon Dioxide Diphosphoglyceric Acids/blood Fires/prevention & control Flame Retardants/*adverse effects Humans Hypoxia/blood/*complications Male Nitrogen Oxygen Respiration Safety;"
Notes:		"MedlineKnight, D R Cymerman, A Devine, J A Burse, R L Fulco, C S Rock, P B Tappan, D V Messier, A A Carhart, H eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 1990/01/01 Undersea Biomed Res. 1990 Jan; 17(1):33-44"