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Joseph Crunk asked:
Anyone have any more information or experience on the idea of argon
uptake? Is it really an issue, or would the amount be so minimal that it
wouldn't matter?
All I've been able to find on this was a pointer in "Diving and
Subaquatic Medice" (2nd edn) by Edmonds, Lowry and Pennyfeather.
In the section on skin bends they make the following comment:
"7. Counterdiffusion of gases. There have been occasional reports of skin
and mucosal swellings due to counterdiffusion of gases. This results in
bubbles forming at the interface between 2 gases diffusing at different
rates, but with the total gas pressure at the interface exceeding the
environmental pressure. This is only likely when the subject's body is
exposed to a light readily diffusible gas, while he breathes a heavier
slower diffusing gas. The result is that the light gas moves rapidly
through the body surface from the environment, while the inhaled gas
maintains a high tissue pressure which is reduced slowly by diffusion to
the environment."
This doesn't answer the question of whether it is an issue of concern though.
Greg Ryan gregr@cs*.su*.oz*.au*
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