The anesthetic effect of air at atmospheric pressure
Just completed my deep (40m/120ft) diver certification. A significant amount of the course was focused on nitrogen narcosis, and how to handle/detect it.<p>Apparently, some divers will start feeling the narcotic effect between 20-30m. Beyond 30m, a significant amount of divers can feel the effects.<p>Beyond 40m is the realm of tech diving, with trimix (helium/nitrogen/oxygen) or even heliox (helium/oxygen). I know nothing about this, so I’ll let others comment.<p>The interesting thing about this research is that it sort of makes sense, and yet is very surprising. We’re basically continuously narked, we’re just so used to it we don’t even know.<p>Fun fact: the exact cause of nitrogen narcosis is not exactly understood. It is most likely the fact that at higher partial pressures nitrogen is able to enter the fatty tissues surrounding our nerves. Except for helium, no other gas exists which does not have some form narcotic effect at higher pressures.<p>Considering the prices of helium, this also explains why many deep divers are starting to consider rebreathers.