Oxygen - O2
Oxygen - O2
This page brings together the main information on dioxygen (O2) or "oxygen" such as its physical characteristics, its effects on health, the means of detecting it (O2 gas detector or rather O2 deficiency detector) as well as the appropriate respiratory protection equipment (self-contained breathing apparatus or air supply system).
Main characteristics of oxygen (O2)
Dioxygen (O2), more simply called " oxygen ", is a gas existing in the free state in the atmosphere, of which it constitutes approximately one fifth of the volume and is essential to most forms of life on earth. It is a highly reactive gas that readily forms compounds (especially oxides) with most elements, with the exception of noble gases such as helium or neon.
Effects of oxygen on health
Oxygen (O2) is a colorless, odorless , and tasteless gas that makes up 20.9% of the air we breathe. Unlike the vast majority of gases, the lower the oxygen (O2) concentration, the more dangerous the effects on health. In medicine, it is administered by inhalation, mainly in cases of asphyxiation, carbon monoxide poisoning, acute pulmonary edema, etc. It is not measured in ppm but in % volume.
O2 (Oxygen) gas detectors
Colorless and odorless, therefore absolutely undetectable by the body , only an O2 gas detector (oxygenometer such as a portable 4 gas detector ) can accurately measure oxygen concentrations in the air, so we will move towards oxygen detection in % volume.
For the calibration and gas testing of your fixed or portable gas detectors, oxygen standard gas cylinders are available.
Respiratory equipment for oxygen-poor (O2) environments
Since all filtering respiratory protection is ineffective in compensating for the lack of oxygen, we will therefore opt for an isolating respiratory device or an air supply system for long-term interventions.