CuriousRambler
Contributor
I just wrapped up the online portion of my nitrox course a few days ago, and have been reading around here and elsewhere since, trying to gain a deeper understanding of things. One thing I haven't been able to find an explanation on: why was I taught to use a max PO2 of 1.4, or 1.6 for contingency planning? I understand the concept of what PO2 is, and I understand the risks/ramifications of exceeding these numbers, so I'm not asking "why can't I use 1.8, or 3.5?" I'm trying to get my head around why these are the numbers, from a theoretical perspective. I'll be amazed if this info isn't already here somewhere, but I'm not sure how to refine my search terms to get beyond conversations about which number to use, rather than why those numbers are the right ones to use.
Operationally, I'm completely OK "just accepting" 1.2/1.4/1.6 are acceptably safe and well-validated numbers. I have no interest in debating the choice of these numbers, and I'm certainly not trying to suggest there's a better choice. Intellectually, I just want to know more. Were these numbers arrived at simply through mass trial and error, were they backed out of decompression algorithms, or are they based on existing physiological research independent of the rec/tech dive world? I can imagine plenty of scenarios where human oxygen toxicity limits might be of interest to other sectors like aerospace, medicine, commercial diving, etc.
I've found plenty of good "books to read" lists here and elsewhere, and I've got a copy of Deco for Divers on order to start with. Unfortunately it looks like it'll arrive a couple days after my next stint out of town, so I'll have to read something else on the plane. Is there maybe a better book on this topic I should earmark for the next one on the list?
Operationally, I'm completely OK "just accepting" 1.2/1.4/1.6 are acceptably safe and well-validated numbers. I have no interest in debating the choice of these numbers, and I'm certainly not trying to suggest there's a better choice. Intellectually, I just want to know more. Were these numbers arrived at simply through mass trial and error, were they backed out of decompression algorithms, or are they based on existing physiological research independent of the rec/tech dive world? I can imagine plenty of scenarios where human oxygen toxicity limits might be of interest to other sectors like aerospace, medicine, commercial diving, etc.
I've found plenty of good "books to read" lists here and elsewhere, and I've got a copy of Deco for Divers on order to start with. Unfortunately it looks like it'll arrive a couple days after my next stint out of town, so I'll have to read something else on the plane. Is there maybe a better book on this topic I should earmark for the next one on the list?