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> 
> A.Appleyard wries:
> 
> >This runs into the topic of how much can gases be absorbed through >human
> skin.  I imagine that if enough argon can be absorbed through the >skin to
> cause bends, then perhaps enough argon can be absorbed through >the skin to
> cause narcosis. ...
> 
> The real risk (if you can call it that) associated with argon suit inflation
> and DCS is skin bends.  These have resulted (so I am told) from very long
> trimix dives in which argon is used for suit gas, but they are attributed to
> helium counterdiffusion out of the tissues, not argon absorption.
> 
> John

>Gentlemen,

I'm not sure that argon would pose a problem owing to it's relatively
large size.  Helium diffuses through a balloon relatively quickly because
it is so small, however air is much slower to leave through the small
pores of the balloon.  I have not tried it, but venture to say that an
argon filled balloon would stay full much longer.  For that reason, (and I
can be corrected here by people who are more familiar with these things) I
would venture to say that argon would **probably** not diffuse through the
skin very readily.  (okay please correct me if I am wrong).

...Brian... 


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