Question

under what circumstances, and why, breathing air enriched with oxygen may be detrimental?

Answer 1

Hi Ttom - Breathing enriched air can be an issue because high concentrations of oxygen can cause the formation of free radicals which can be hazardous to other cells. The pressure can also be an issue, if someone is exposed to partial pressures of oxygen over a long period (think scuba diving).

Answer 2

Great answer, @Atam. For some more detrimental effects - I kindly direct you to this link: http://science.howstuffworks.com/question4931.htm

Answer 3

Thanks KMA, I also found this site which explains in more detail what actually happens during oxygen toxicity. Fascinating! http://scuba.about.com/od/Enriched-Air-Nitrox/p/Oxygen-Toxicity-And-Scuba-Diving.htm

Answer 4

greaat answer Atam, what else? i have something specific in mind ( i tend to ask question i know the answer for...)

Answer 5

Well this is probably a big stretch, but the first thing that came to mind was 03 (ozone). I remember being given air purifiers by a previous employer to help "clean the air" by enriching it. But when I read the fine print it said that the machine produced low-level ozone which is an upper respiratory irritant. Apparently the Sharper Image was sued over these "clean air" claims. Again, I have a feeling that's not what you were looking for...

Answer 6

i had in mind co2 and o2 sensors in the brain. in the respiratory drive center in the medulla
in healthy people, the drive to breath is not lack of oxygen - ie hypoxia but co2 retention - ie hypercapnea. the threshold is just lower for co2
people sick with lung disease (i mean COPD but that is not the essence of this answer) are chronically hypercapnic - they dont breath well, and they are used to it - they compensate (maybe ill get to it some other time) so for them the drive is indeend oxygen. supply them with too much of it and they literally forget to breath and reach co2 narcosis and die...

Answer 7

Enriched oxygen is flammable.