Compressed breathing air - The potential for evil from within

Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine

Volumn 38, Issue 3, 2008, Pages 145-151

  Millar, Ian L ^a   Mouldey, Peter G ^b  

^a ALFRED HOSPITAL   (Australia)

^b Southdown Medical Centre   (Canada)

Author keywords

Air; Carbon monoxide; Clinical toxicology; Compressors; Exogenous poison; Standards; Toxins

Indexed keywords

ACTIVATED CARBON; BENZENE; CARBON DIOXIDE; CARBON MONOXIDE; ETHYLBENZENE; MINERAL OIL; NITROGEN; OXYGEN; TOLUENE; VOLATILE AGENT; XYLENE;

AIR POLLUTION; AIR QUALITY; AIR TEMPERATURE; ANESTHESIA; ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE; BREATHING MECHANICS; CARBON MONOXIDE INTOXICATION; CORROSION; DEATH; DECISION MAKING; DIVING; EQUIPMENT DESIGN; FILTRATION; HEART ARRHYTHMIA; HEATING; HUMAN; HUMIDITY; HYPOXIA; MEDICAL RESEARCH; MOLECULAR WEIGHT; REVIEW; SAFETY; SEIZURE THRESHOLD; VOLATILIZATION;

EID: 55049132542     PISSN: 18333516     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Review

References (19)

1. Astarita C, Gargno D, Di Martino P. Pollen trapped in scuba tank: a potential hazard for allergic divers (letter). Ann Int Med. 2000; 132: 166-7.
2. Mayr FB, Spiel A, Leitner J, Marsik C, Germann P, et al. Effects of carbon monoxide inhalation during experimental endotoxemia in humans. Am J Resp Crit Care Med. 2005; 171: 354-360.
3. Hill-Kapturczak N, Agarwal A. Carbon monoxide: from silent killer to potential remedy. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2006; 290: 787-8.
4. Thom SR, Weaver LK, Hampson NB. "Therapeutic" carbon monoxide may be toxic. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005; 171: 1318.
5. Horvath SM et al. Maximal aerobic capacity at different levels of carboxyhemoglobin. J Appl Physiol. 1975; 38: 300-3.
6. Fang Z, Sonner J, Laster M, et al. Anesthetic and convulsant properties of aromatic compounds and cycloalkanes: implications for mechanisms of narcosis. Anesth Analg. 1996; 83: 1097-104.
7. Mouldey P. Toluene gas contamination incident [Internet]; 2004 Dec 5. Available from:
8. Hobara T, Okuda M, Gotoh M, Oki K, Segawa H, Kunitsugu I. Estimation of the lethal toluene concentration from the accidental death of painting workers, Industrial Health. 2000; 38: 228-31.
9. Department of Health and Human Services (US). Toluene medical management guideline. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Department of Health and Human Services (US). Available from:
10. Health and Safety Executive (UK). Divers breathing air standard and frequency of tests. Health and Safety Executive, Diving Information Sheet No.9; 2006. Available from:
11. Department of Health and Human Services (US). Toxicological profile for toluene. Section 2.2.1.4. Neurological effects. Washington DC: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Department of Health and Human Services; 2000. [cited 21 August 2008]. Available from:
12. Flook V. Development of the Analox Hyper-Gas Diving Bell Monitor, HSE Research Report 030. 2003. Available from:
13. Austin C, Ecobichon D, Dussault G, Tirado C. Carbon monoxide and water vapour contamination of compressed breathing air for firefighters and divers. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1997: 52: 403-23.
14. Pollock NW (Ed). Annual Diving Report 2007 Edition. Durham, NC: Divers Alert Network; 2007.
15. Caruso J, Hobgood J, Uguccioni, D, Dovenbarger J. Carbon monoxide poisoning in recreational diving: an uncommon but potentially fatal problem. Undersea Hyperb Med. 1998; 25(Suppl): S52.
16. Bailey N, Bolsver J, Parker C, Hughes A. Performance of diving equipment. Norwich: HSE Books; 2006.
17. Swedish Consumer Agency. Market surveillance of diving air services for recreational diving: Report N. 2007:162007. Karlstad: Swedish Consumer Agency. Available from:
18. Rossier, R. How good is your gas? [Internet] DAN Alert Diver. 2004 June: 16-18. Available from:
19. Lillo R, Caldwell J. On-Line Air Quality Monitors for Diving Compressors. Undersea Hyperb Med. 1995; ????.