"Michael M. Butler" wrote:
>
> Sorry to pop your bubble, Spike. But "less soluble" does not mean "negligible". See for instance
>
> http://www.dciem.dnd.ca/DCIEM/research/facts/more/dive-tables.html
>
> You can get the bends on oxy-helium; it's just harder.
>
> IIRC, Argon and Xenon have already been experimented with by the military (Navy, I assume); I have heard rumors that
> Sulfur Hexafluoride has been experimented with, as well; the molecule is so big it is alleged to not penetrate tissues
> fast. I don't know how high they've taken the pressures.
>
> I'm researching the high pressure noble gas toxicity issues. There is (also?) an effect called High Pressure Nervous
> Syndrome that is at least somewhat documented. Details when I find something that looks adequately authoritative. This
> might be hard, since the exotic mix work is/was probably classified.
>From my own acquaintences involved in this research, they report that
the chief problem is that the repeated sensation of drowning as one
repeatedly readjusts to the new breating medium results in permanent
psychological damage. This might not be bad for individuals who remain
within the medium for long periods, as in the undersea environment, but
it has apparently caused significant problems for its use with pilots of
high performance aircraft. Latest word is that research is focusing on a
dramamine-like drug to counteract this effect.
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