Submarine Air Quality: Monitoring the Air in Submarines. Health Effects in Divers of Breathing Submarine Air Under Hyperbaric Conditions

摘要

The report is an assessment of the quality of the air in the enclosed environment of a nuclear submarine. Part 1 is a review of the analytic techniques used in monitoring submarine contaminants, a study of possible alternate monitoring methods, and recommendations on which compounds would be most useful to monitor. Part 2 is a review of the possible health effects in divers of breathing commonly encountered airborne contaminants at pressures of up to 6 atmospheres, considering possible interactions of substances encountered as mixtures. Recommendations include the curtailment of smoking, the possible elimination of deep-fat fryers, the use of nontoxic paints, an increased monitoring capacity, the establishment of toxic categories for chemicals, a review of the methods of instruction of personnel regarding air control equipment, and increased communication with the British Royal Navy regarding the monitoring of air contaminants. Recommendations for divers' air include the monitoring of CO2 and particulates with their removal if necessary, and the study of animals or humans exposed to elevated levels of CO2. Also recommended is physiological research on the interaction of cold, extreme exercise, and breathing compressed gases.