What is a common effect of using a higher concentration of oxygen in diving?

What is a common effect of using a higher concentration of oxygen in diving?

• A. Increased buoyancy
• B. Increased risk of oxygen toxicity
• C. Decreased visibility
• D. Less safety overall

Answer: (B)

Using a higher concentration of oxygen in diving, such as in Enriched Air Nitrox, increases the risk of oxygen toxicity. This condition can arise when a diver is exposed to elevated partial pressures of oxygen for an extended duration or at significant depths. Oxygen toxicity can affect the central nervous system, leading to symptoms such as visual disturbances, muscle twitching, and seizures. It can also potentially impact the lungs, particularly if divers are breathing high concentrations of oxygen at shallow depths. Understanding this risk is crucial for divers using Enriched Air Nitrox, as it necessitates careful planning of dive profiles, depths, and time limits to ensure safety. The other options, though possibly relevant to various diving concerns, do not accurately represent a common effect associated with increased oxygen concentrations in the context of Nitrox diving.

Using a higher concentration of oxygen in diving, such as in Enriched Air Nitrox, increases the risk of oxygen toxicity. This condition can arise when a diver is exposed to elevated partial pressures of oxygen for an extended duration or at significant depths.

Oxygen toxicity can affect the central nervous system, leading to symptoms such as visual disturbances, muscle twitching, and seizures. It can also potentially impact the lungs, particularly if divers are breathing high concentrations of oxygen at shallow depths. Understanding this risk is crucial for divers using Enriched Air Nitrox, as it necessitates careful planning of dive profiles, depths, and time limits to ensure safety.

The other options, though possibly relevant to various diving concerns, do not accurately represent a common effect associated with increased oxygen concentrations in the context of Nitrox diving.