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On Sat, 7 May 1994, Epic Dive Shop wrote:

> i heard in conversations at tom mounts that studies also found that in
> these deep chamber dives heliox alone caused the red blood cells to
> become rigid, causing minor damage to the smaller capillaries.
> 
> but when even minute amounts of nitrogen was introduced to the breathing
> medium the cells softened back to normal...
> 
> any comments..
> 
> dennis

I've been told that cellular distortion and certain enzymatic disfunction
can occur at ambient pressures experienced at depths below about 350
meters.  My understanding was that some of these effects were a direct
result of the pressure itself, not the inspired gas partial pressures.

Interesting topic.  Anybody have any real insight?

Aloha,

Rich

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