The Mutual Toxic Effects of Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, and Oxygen When Respired Under High Pressure

Abstract

In the past sixty years with the advent of submarines, spaceflights, and new diving apparatus, there has been considerable work on the toxic effects of Carbon Dioxide (C02), Oxygen (02), and Nitrogen (N2), when they are respired under high pressures. In a considerable number of articles the authors have treated one of these gases alone, holding the others as controls. I believe and hope this paper will point out that when considering the toxic mechanisms of one of these gases under high pressures, the other gas pressures and their effects must be considered as relevant participants in any mechanism. In this paper I shall attempt to point out a number of sites where the mutual effects of all gases must be considered before an accurate evaluation as to the nature of any mechanism can be made. This will be accomplished largely by collecting and arranging observed effects in such a way as to make the interelations obvious, rather than at every point making an actual statement of the mutual effect.