InspectAPedia ^TM

Toxicity of Oxygen Gas Exposure, O2 Poisoning Symptoms, Oxygen Gas Exposure Limits, and Links to Toxic Gas Testing Procedures Enter your search terms Submit search form   Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com

• Recommended limits for oxygen gas exposure or usage
• Symptoms & effects of exposure to unusually high levels of oxygen
• Recommendations for gas measurement instruments, gas detector tubes, Draeger & Gastec tubes & pumps for detection of gases

This document discusses the toxicity and exposure limits for exposure to oxygen gas O₂). We give references and explanation regarding toxicity of oxygen, based on literature search and obtained from the U.S. government and expert sources. This text may assist readers in understanding these topics. However it should by no means be considered complete nor authoritative. Seek prompt advice from your doctor or health/safety experts if you have any reason to be concerned about exposure to toxic gases.

Links on this page also direct the reader to carbon monoxide gas and carbon dioxide gas information in a separate document. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

What happens if a human breathes too much oxygen rather than too little?

Since we've discussed displacement of and reduction of the level of oxygen by an increase in CO₂ or by dangerous carbon monoxide CO levels indoors in occupied buildings, (see links for these topics at page left) let's take a look at the toxicity of oxygen itself and at what happens if the mix of gases in air changes in the opposite direction, increasing rather than decreasing the level of oxygen above normal amounts. Where does this occur? Two examples of exposure of humans to unusually high levels of oxygen occur in "oxygen bars" and in hyperbaric medicine.

Technical note on oxygen toxicity: What about too much oxygen in air: While high levels, even 100% oxygen are used for medical purposes in some cases (hyperbaric oxygen patients breathe 100% O2 at pressures above 2 to 2.4 ATM for 40-60 minutes),breathing high levels of oxygen can be toxic for humans and other animals. (Toxicity of excessive oxygen will depend on the oxygen level, the duration of exposure (breathing it), and individual characteristics).

But breathing high O₂ air too long can produce toxic free radicals, producing effects that can be observed clinically in the human lungs or central nervous system. The current recommended limits of oxygen exposure are up to 24 hours with 100% O2, and up to 48 hours with 60% O2. OSHA does not have a permissible exposure limit (PEL) for oxygen.

What are the symptoms of exposure to elevated levels of oxygen?

The symptoms of excessive oxygen exposure include the following: (some or all of these might occur)

• Dizziness can occur on exposure to high oxygen levels
• Coughing and irritations of the throat can occur on exposure to high oxygen levels
• Difficulties with vision or visual anomalies can occur at very high O₂concentrations

What are the medical effects or symptoms of prolonged exposure to 100% oxygen?

If a person (say a medical patient undergoing hyperbaric treatment at high levels of oxygen and at increased pressure) is breathes 100% oxygen for more than a day (24 hours) s/he may show the symptoms we listed just above, and also the following:

• General physical weakness or a sense of exhaustion or fatigue can occur at very high O₂concentrations
• The patient may experience pain joint and muscle pain
• The high oxygen prolonged exposure individual may experience numbness and tingling in arms and legs (like when your leg "falls asleep")
• Heart palpitations may occur
• The individual may complain of a headache
• Some patients complain of nasal congestion or (perhaps similarly-caused ear clogging, congestion, and pain, perhaps caused by swelling of the mucous membranes
• On 24 hour exposure to 100% oxygen additional medical symptoms include the development of fever, nausea and vomiting, and a (corresponding) loss of appetite
• Experts also cite the obvious hazard of freezing-burns if someone comes in contact with liquid oxygen.

OSHA provides these literature citations for this symptom list (which we paraphrased from OSHA documents):
International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Oxygen.
Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Oxygen. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1771-1772. www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_259105.html and www.vspn.org/vspnsearch/aow/oxygentoxicity.htm Oxygen toxicity
Oxygen Toxicity Compendium of Continuing Educational Practice, Veternarian 21[4]:341-351 Apr'99 Review Article 67 References, by Steven Mensack, VMD & Robert Murtaugh, DVM, MS, at the Department of Clinical Science, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA
"Room Air Appears To Do Less Brain Damage Than Pure Oxygen", Doctor's Guide, September 18, 1998, which we found at www.pslgroup.com/dg/B01A6.htm. This article points out that while oxygen is an important component of treatment for certain medical emergencies (perhaps heart attack), after oxygen levels reached normal levels in the blood, continuing to administer pure oxygen actually was damaging the metabolic mechanism in the brain. [close paraphrasing]

Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material. Content suggestions, technical corrections and content critique are invited for any of the content at our website.

• Daniel Friedman - principal editor
• Literature and source citations are provided in the body of this document
• Technical reviewers are invited to comment or ask questions - contact us

More Information on Toxic Gas Detection, Exposure, Test Procedures, Toxicity, and Remedy, & Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

Toxic Gas Exposure Hazards and Test Protocols including links to our toxic gas exposure screening and gas testing protocols.

Gases: Toxic gases, indoor exposure levels, testing, identification

• A Toxic Gas Testing Plan: A Gas Sampling Plan for Residential and Commercial Buildings lists some of the toxic indoor gases for which we test, depending on the building complaint and building conditions
• Gas Exposure Hazard Levels: for Toxic Gas Exposure to Ammonia, Arsine, Arsenic, Bromine, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Hydride, Ozone - allowable exposure levels and hazard levels
• Carbon Dioxide Gas Toxicity hazard level, poisoning symptoms, & testing
• Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity hazard levels, poisoning symptoms, & testing
• Formaldehyde: US EPA. UFFI (Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation) was previously considered a hazard (formaldehyde outgassing). Subsequent research virtually closed concern regarding this material; however formaldehyde appears to remain a health concern for sensitive individuals.
• Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
• Sampling for gases in air such as VOC's, MVOC's, toxic chemicals, and combustion products.
  Unfortunately no single test or tool can detect all possible building contaminants. We use methods and equipment which can test for common contaminants. If the identity of a specific contaminant is known in advance we can also test for a very large number of specific contaminant gases in buildings.
  We use gas sampling equipment provided by the two most reliable companies in the world, Draeger-Safety's detector-tubes and Drager accuro� bellows pump, the Gastec� cylinder pump and detector-tube system produced by Gastec or Sensidyne, and we also use Sensidyne's Gilian air pump. For broad screening for combustibles and a number of other toxic gases and for leak tracing we also use Amprobe's Tif8850. All of these instruments, their applications, and sensitivities (minimum detectable limits) for specific gases are described in our Gas Sampling Plan online document.
• Radon Gas U.S. EPA Radon level maps

InspectAPedia ^TM Home & Site Map - Building Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair, Environmental Inspection & Testing - Research Website

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

	inspect-ny.com Web