In a closed space, this can result in a dangerous increase in the oxygen level. In an open space, a hazardous oxygen concentration would only exist for a moment. A spill of liquid oxygen creates a dense cloud of oxygen enriched air when evaporating. Over time, the oxygen remains in the atmosphere and, if ventilation is inadequate, the air can become enriched with oxygen. In industrial processes where oxygen is used, oxygen may be allowed to freely escape during the process. Even a small volume of liquid oxygen can produce a large volume of oxygen gas. For example, a fork lift operator might rupture an oxygen pipe. A sudden release of oxygen under pressure can result in a relatively large jet of escaping oxygen. This can be particularly hazardous in areas where there is not sufficient ventilation causing the oxygen concentration to increase.īreaks in systems under oxygen pressure. Leaking pipe, flange or manifold connections. However, studies show that long term recovery is possible once oxygen levels are reduced. The problem with breathing air at increased oxygen levels is that over time it can damage cell membranes, a collapse of the alveoli in the lungs, retinal detachment, and seizures. For example, this is used to treat decompression sickness, to give supplemental oxygen to premature babies, and is used to treat a host of diseases under the general term of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Patients are placed in a sealed container with increased pressure and oxygen levels. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) uses 100% oxygen at an ambient pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. While OSHA defines anything above 23.5% oxygen as dangerous, medical scientists have experimented with subjecting patients to hyperoxia, or breathing air at 100% oxygen levels for years. This is why OSHA considers any oxygen level below 19.5% as oxygen deficient or anything above 23.5% as oxygen enriched air. Therefore, it makes sense that because humans and animals are adapted to breathing 21% oxygen in air, anything much different from 21% would be hazardous to our health. While there have been minor variations in the earth’s total oxygen level, over time humans and animals have become physically adapted to breathing air that contains approximately 21% oxygen. Fossil remains of oxygen-breathing mammals have been found that date back around 150 million years and human remains have been recorded over the last 200,000 years, so logic tells us that oxygen levels have risen to 21% over time. At that time, there was virtually no free oxygen in the atmosphere. The earth formed over 4.5 billion years ago. If you go back far enough in geological time, these numbers will be different. The same balances hold true for nitrogen (78% of air by volume) as well as the trace gases like argon, carbon dioxide and water vapor. It is simply the volume of oxygen in our present day atmosphere. The oxygen level on the planet has stabilized at 21% because the amount of oxygen consumed is approximately equal to the amount of oxygen generated over time. The average oxygen level on earth is approximately 21% oxygen by volume. In enclosed spaces, high levels of oxygen can be dangerous to humans. In simple terms, it is the result of the chemical reaction occurring in the liquid which produces a gaseous product.Oxygen enrichment is the general term for any gas or liquid that has more than 21% oxygen by volume in the air.
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