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Document ID (ISN)29572
CIS number 78-1141
ISSN - Serial title 0095-6562 - Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
Year 1978
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Mano Y., D'Arrigo J.S.
Title Relationship between CO2 levels and decompression sickness: Implications for disease prevention.
Bibliographic information Feb. 1978, Vol.49, No.2, p.349-355. Illus. 21 ref.
Abstract A report of the clinical findings obtained from 84 caisson workers engaged in foundation work for the construction of a blast furnace on reclaimed ground in Tokyo Bay. The maximum depth reached by the caisson was 56.3m from the surface, the workers being exposed to 5 different ranges of pressure and totalling 12,586 exposures in 5 months' work. There were no cases of decompression sickness at caisson pressures 1.8-2.7ata; at 2.7-3.9ata the overall incidence was 1.64%. When the bottom pressure was 3.0-3.2ata, and the man lock contained 1.8-2.3% carbon dioxide during decompression, the incidence of sickness was 3.05%. On reducing the CO2 to 0.3-0.8%, the incidence was 0.96%, even at 3.2-3.4ata. Based on the nature of muscular activity required of the workers just prior to decompression, their most common site of the disease was in the region where the highest amounts of CO2 would be expected during decompression.
Descriptors (primary) carbon dioxide; work in pressurized atmosphere; decompression sickness
Descriptors (secondary) hyperbaric pressure; caissons; occupational health survey; carbon monoxide; Japan
Document type -
Subject(s) Construction industry
Broad subject area(s)
Browse category(ies) Hyperbaric pressure
Carbon dioxide
Inorganic substances