What air pressure can the human body survive?

Thread starter Les Lord
Start date Aug 28, 2009
Tags

Air Air pressure Body Human Human body Pressure

In summary: On recreational diving oxygen is considered toxic beyond partial pressure of 1.6bar (~67m dive on air) and Nitrogen is starting to become toxic beyond partial pressure of 3.2bar (~ 30m dive on air). If one wants to go much deeper then that he have to use mixtures with lower % of Oxygen then air, lower % of Nitrogen then air and Helium. As far as I remember the world record for "dry" diving (inside a recompression chamber) is around 700meters (~70bars).In summary, at 10,000 psi a human could survive, but at less than half that pressure they would start to

Sep 18, 2009

xxChrisxx

DaveC426913 said:

Yes. I never knew this until I read that Wiki article just now. The story I've always known was a simplification of the facts - no mention that it was a test, and no mention that they overpressured it.

Whats more shocking is that the saftey feature of an inwards opening hatch suggested/demanded by Grissom is what killed* the crew.

EDIT: *Contributed to killing them, no one aspect of the accident was directly responsible but the combination was fatal.

<h2>1. What is the maximum air pressure that the human body can withstand?</h2><p>The maximum air pressure that the human body can withstand is around 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi), which is equivalent to the air pressure at sea level. This is because our bodies are adapted to the air pressure at sea level and any significant increase can cause serious health issues.</p><h2>2. Can a human survive in low air pressure environments?</h2><p>Yes, a human can survive in low air pressure environments for a short period of time. For example, astronauts can survive in the low air pressure environment of space for a limited time with the help of a spacesuit and oxygen supply. However, prolonged exposure to low air pressure can lead to serious health problems such as decompression sickness.</p><h2>3. What happens to the body in high air pressure environments?</h2><p>In high air pressure environments, the body experiences an increase in external pressure. This can cause the body's tissues to compress, which can lead to discomfort and pain. In extreme cases, it can also lead to tissue damage and even death.</p><h2>4. Is there a limit to how much air pressure the human body can handle?</h2><p>Yes, there is a limit to how much air pressure the human body can handle. As mentioned earlier, the maximum air pressure that the body can withstand is around 14.7 psi. Any significant increase in air pressure can cause serious health issues and can be fatal.</p><h2>5. How does air pressure affect the body during scuba diving?</h2><p>During scuba diving, the body is exposed to increasing air pressure as the diver descends deeper into the water. This can cause the air spaces in the body, such as the lungs and ears, to compress. To prevent any damage, divers need to equalize the pressure in their body by clearing their ears and using specialized equipment, such as a regulator, to breathe compressed air.</p>

1. What is the maximum air pressure that the human body can withstand?

The maximum air pressure that the human body can withstand is around 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi), which is equivalent to the air pressure at sea level. This is because our bodies are adapted to the air pressure at sea level and any significant increase can cause serious health issues.

2. Can a human survive in low air pressure environments?

Yes, a human can survive in low air pressure environments for a short period of time. For example, astronauts can survive in the low air pressure environment of space for a limited time with the help of a spacesuit and oxygen supply. However, prolonged exposure to low air pressure can lead to serious health problems such as decompression sickness.

3. What happens to the body in high air pressure environments?

In high air pressure environments, the body experiences an increase in external pressure. This can cause the body's tissues to compress, which can lead to discomfort and pain. In extreme cases, it can also lead to tissue damage and even death.

4. Is there a limit to how much air pressure the human body can handle?

Yes, there is a limit to how much air pressure the human body can handle. As mentioned earlier, the maximum air pressure that the body can withstand is around 14.7 psi. Any significant increase in air pressure can cause serious health issues and can be fatal.

5. How does air pressure affect the body during scuba diving?

During scuba diving, the body is exposed to increasing air pressure as the diver descends deeper into the water. This can cause the air spaces in the body, such as the lungs and ears, to compress. To prevent any damage, divers need to equalize the pressure in their body by clearing their ears and using specialized equipment, such as a regulator, to breathe compressed air.