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In article <23966@galaxy.ucr.edu>, judson@watserv.ucr.edu (Mike Judson) writes:
>Sorry, but being a chemist and a scuba diver, I can tell you that you are
>both wrong.  Nitrogen narcosis (the bends)

Nitrogen narcosis is NOT the bends.  Nitrogen narcosis is also known as rapture
of the deep.  It occurs at depth.  The bends are the result of nitrogen coming
out of solution.  It occurs when the pressure decreases, not at depth.

>is caused by nitrogen in the
>blood.  When scuba diving and breathing compressed air, a person will be
>breathing nitrogen under water.  This is because 80% of air is nitrogen.
>As he breathes this air, nitrogen will be absorbed into the blood stream.
>Then, because of Boyle's law, as the diver ascends, the nitrogen gas wil
>expand in the blood.  If there is too much nitrogen in the blood, the 
>person will experience nitrogen narcosis and what will result is severe
>muscle cramps (hence the bends) and possibly death.

No.  Nitrogen narcosis (a.k.a. rapture of the deep) occurs at depth, not during
ascent.

>However, this can be
>avoided by not breathing nitrogen under water, which can be done by
>breathing a combination of Helium and oxygen, which Jacque Cousteau does.
>The reason why you do not want to breath pure oxygen is because at extreme
>depths, oxygen becomes poisonous.  

What you say is true of the bends.  Unfortunately, it has nothing whatever to
do with nitrogen narcosis (other, of course, that you don't develop nitrogen
narcosis if you don't breathe nitrogen).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL

Disclaimer:  Hey, I understand VAXen and VMS.  That's what I get paid for.  My
understanding of astronomy is purely at the amateur level (or below).  So
unless what I'm saying is directly related to VAX/VMS, don't hold me or my
organization responsible for it.  If it IS related to VAX/VMS, you can try to
hold me responsible for it, but my organization had nothing to do with it.