No, but you can make the claim that it may be. And you absolutely cannot make that claim that it isn't, as you do. The fact remains that there is evidence.
Because the research cited by syntaxerrorsix shows that for O2 to be narcotic it requires 1.65 pPO2 (and this at depths greater than recreational diving depths), then I can make the assetion that O2 is NOT narcotic at a significantly lower pPO2 and depth (this also considering that science has been unable to show that O2 is narcotic at recreational diving depths).
Such research cited by syntaxerrorsix gives me comfort in my belief (pursuant to my observations and the teachings of the NSS and others long ago on the subject) that O2 is not narcotic in N32 at 100' because N32 has a much lower pPO2 at 100' than 1.65 pPO2.
So, I accept O2 a. may be or b. may not be narcotic at recreational depths, but there is both direct evidence that it is not (the pPO2 of N32 at 100' being less than 1.65) and also indirect evidence that it is not (i.e. science has been unable to prove that it is).
---------- Post added August 29th, 2013 at 04:12 PM ----------
You have that backwards. Having proved it is narcotic under certain conditions, the assumption is that -- absent proof or a tested theory showing why it would be otherwise -- some narcotic effect would be observed even at lower depths. That's the thing about science...it's predictive as well as observational.
When I was little, true story, I read on the newspaper that scientists determined saccarin was carcinogenic.
I was very worried for my Granddad who took saccarin, and my first thought was to tell him to stop immediately (and I did).
Then I also read that the "scientists" fed the rats in a short period of time more saccarin than a human would ingest in a life-time.
So, YES, saccarin is carcinogenic, but it is so under the tested conditions. Lower the dose, and the rats live happily on saccarin.
Same with O2.
Under the tested conditions, O2 is narcotic (i.e. 1.65 pPO2, 10% impairment).
Lower the dose, it may not be.
Is there some evidence (another study) which shows O2 is narcotic at a lower pPO2 than 1.65 pPO2 (and a shallower depth than tested)?
It is very interesting indeed how O2 appears to be narcotic at a lower partial pressure than N.