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Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 20:29:31 -0700
From: Eric Mieczkowski <ericm@ru*.ne*>
Organization: The HMS Products Company
To: Techdiver <techdiver@terra.net>
Subject: Narcosis
Quite some time ago I posted a question regarding causes of narcosis.  
Since then I've done some additional experimenting on dive conditions 
and a lot of talking to other divers.  I also dug through the 
techdiver archives.  I'm left with an interesting question.  I am 
wondering if a causal relationship between water mineral content or 
concentration and narcosis has ever been investigated or established.

The reason I ask is this:
I've been diving below 100 feet since shortly after I was certified.  I 
have never experienced narcosis at depths shallower than 140 feet, with 
one exception:  Gilboa Stone Quarry, in Ohio.  At the quarry I 
consistently get the onset of narcosis as shallow as 90 feet, and always 
by the time I hit the bottom at 130.  I have done dives there on Nitrox 
mixes as high os 36%, depending on depth, as well as air.  I know that 
the quarry has a very high sulfur level, and possibly unusual levels of 
other minerals.  It is, after all, a quarry.

My interest is entirely accademic since the cure is obvious:  Don't dive 
the quarry.  The situation has piqued my interest though.  I'm curious 
to see if I can dig something up.

Sincerely,

Eric Mieczkowski

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