I believe that it has to do with changes to the partial pressure of each gas that causes the problem.
As the percentage of CO2 in the air increases the red blood platelets are less able to rid themselves of CO2 gas, and the corresponding decrease of the P.P. of O2 makes it more difficult to pick up the Oxygen. While CO2 is not poisonous, it does not support life. In the case Norm cited the occupants would die of CO2 intoxication. This would be the case even though there were still O2 in the air of the chamber. If you would like to simulate the experience, just put a plastic bag over your head and tie it tight around your neck. (I would recommend a slipped hitch). Pol Pot used this technique to cheaply murderer many of his countryman. Cheaper than bullets and, being the bags are reusable, ecologically sound too. I would suggest you have a REAL friend in attendance during this experiment to remove the bag at the appropriate time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_pressure I may have gotten this wrong and would appreciate any comments from more learned individuals. Philip On Mon, 2011-04-25 at 13:31 -0400, [email protected] wrote: > A friend and I are having a discussion. > > If one is locked in an airtight compartment, does one die of lack of oxygen > or carbon dioxide poisoning? > > > Norm > S/V Bandersnatch > > > _______________________________________________ > Liveaboard mailing list > [email protected] > To adjust your membership settings over the web > http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard > To subscribe send an email to [email protected] > > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ > > To search the archives > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here > http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html -- S/V ORYOKI Philip & Marilyn Lange AE4OV KD4JRC Currently on the hill - Beaufort NC "There's no point in making a plan if you're not going to pretend to follow it!" _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
