Oxygen-enriched air reduces breathing gas consumption over air

Owing to the unfamiliar environment, recreational and professional diving is confronted with several challenges. Usage of self-contained under-water breathing apparatuses during the dive provides the indispensable breathing gas supply for the diver. Instead of air, oxygen-enriched breathing gases (E...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: J.D. Schipke, A. Deussen, F. Moeller, U. Hoffmann, T. Muth, A. Zenske, A. Koch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-01-01
Series:Current Research in Physiology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665944122000074
_version_ 1811178547208781824
author J.D. Schipke
A. Deussen
F. Moeller
U. Hoffmann
T. Muth
A. Zenske
A. Koch
author_facet J.D. Schipke
A. Deussen
F. Moeller
U. Hoffmann
T. Muth
A. Zenske
A. Koch
author_sort J.D. Schipke
collection DOAJ
description Owing to the unfamiliar environment, recreational and professional diving is confronted with several challenges. Usage of self-contained under-water breathing apparatuses during the dive provides the indispensable breathing gas supply for the diver. Instead of air, oxygen-enriched breathing gases (EANx or nitrox) are used with increasing frequency. Unfortunately, their usage implies negative effects because the elevated oxygen partial pressure (pO2) increases oxidative stress. As a result, the increased formation of reactive oxygen species exerts negative effects on the central nervous system, lungs, vasculature and eyes. However, these disadvantages can be avoided if appropriate rules are followed, e.g. a pO2<1.4 bar. EANx breathing gases have, on the other hand, major advantages as they help reducing narcotic nitrogen effects and bubble formation.Several land-based studies had proven a reduced ventilation of exercising subjects if EANx was used instead of air. As breathing gas is the most valuable under-water good, we wanted to translate the on-land results into under-water results. Appropriate studies now demonstrate a novel EANx property as under-water ventilation is also reduced with EANx. In this short communication, we present this additional advantage of EANx-breathing. This benefit seems to be of particular importance as it delays unforeseen running-out-of-gas and thus, contributes to further improving diving safety.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T06:21:23Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f5f6979b163c4d2eabe3af0f10bc596b
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2665-9441
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T06:21:23Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Current Research in Physiology
spelling doaj.art-f5f6979b163c4d2eabe3af0f10bc596b2022-12-22T04:40:36ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Physiology2665-94412022-01-0157982Oxygen-enriched air reduces breathing gas consumption over airJ.D. Schipke0A. Deussen1F. Moeller2U. Hoffmann3T. Muth4A. Zenske5A. Koch6Research Group Experimental Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany; Corresponding author.Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, GermanyGerman Sport University Cologne, Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, Department of Exercise Physiology, Cologne, GermanyGerman Sport University Cologne, Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, Department of Exercise Physiology, Cologne, GermanyInstitute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, GermanyKlinikum Landshut, Operative Intensivmedizin und Schmerztherapie, Landshut, GermanyGerman Naval Medical Institute, Kiel, GermanyOwing to the unfamiliar environment, recreational and professional diving is confronted with several challenges. Usage of self-contained under-water breathing apparatuses during the dive provides the indispensable breathing gas supply for the diver. Instead of air, oxygen-enriched breathing gases (EANx or nitrox) are used with increasing frequency. Unfortunately, their usage implies negative effects because the elevated oxygen partial pressure (pO2) increases oxidative stress. As a result, the increased formation of reactive oxygen species exerts negative effects on the central nervous system, lungs, vasculature and eyes. However, these disadvantages can be avoided if appropriate rules are followed, e.g. a pO2<1.4 bar. EANx breathing gases have, on the other hand, major advantages as they help reducing narcotic nitrogen effects and bubble formation.Several land-based studies had proven a reduced ventilation of exercising subjects if EANx was used instead of air. As breathing gas is the most valuable under-water good, we wanted to translate the on-land results into under-water results. Appropriate studies now demonstrate a novel EANx property as under-water ventilation is also reduced with EANx. In this short communication, we present this additional advantage of EANx-breathing. This benefit seems to be of particular importance as it delays unforeseen running-out-of-gas and thus, contributes to further improving diving safety.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665944122000074ExerciseVentilationDivingHyperoxia
spellingShingle J.D. Schipke
A. Deussen
F. Moeller
U. Hoffmann
T. Muth
A. Zenske
A. Koch
Oxygen-enriched air reduces breathing gas consumption over air
Current Research in Physiology
Exercise
Ventilation
Diving
Hyperoxia
title Oxygen-enriched air reduces breathing gas consumption over air
title_full Oxygen-enriched air reduces breathing gas consumption over air
title_fullStr Oxygen-enriched air reduces breathing gas consumption over air
title_full_unstemmed Oxygen-enriched air reduces breathing gas consumption over air
title_short Oxygen-enriched air reduces breathing gas consumption over air
title_sort oxygen enriched air reduces breathing gas consumption over air
topic Exercise
Ventilation
Diving
Hyperoxia
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665944122000074
work_keys_str_mv AT jdschipke oxygenenrichedairreducesbreathinggasconsumptionoverair
AT adeussen oxygenenrichedairreducesbreathinggasconsumptionoverair
AT fmoeller oxygenenrichedairreducesbreathinggasconsumptionoverair
AT uhoffmann oxygenenrichedairreducesbreathinggasconsumptionoverair
AT tmuth oxygenenrichedairreducesbreathinggasconsumptionoverair
AT azenske oxygenenrichedairreducesbreathinggasconsumptionoverair
AT akoch oxygenenrichedairreducesbreathinggasconsumptionoverair