What is it called when there is too much nitrogen while scuba diving?

Answer 1

Nitrogen Narcosis (Rapture of the Deep)

Nitrogen is an inert gas that makes up 79% of the air we breath.

Due to the effects of pressure, this gas produces an altered mental state similar to alcohol intoxication. The effect typically becomes noticeable at 100 ft underwater and can be incapacitating at 300 ft, causing stupor, blindness, unconsciousness, and even death. Nitrogen narcosis is also called "the martini effect" because divers experience an effect comparable to that of one martini on an empty stomach for every 50 ft of depth beyond the initial 100 ft.

Nitrogen narcosis is caused by the gases in the body acting in a manner described by DALTON'S LAW of partial pressures. This states : the total pressure of a gas mixture is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of gases in the mixture. As the total gas pressure increases with increasing dive depth, the partial pressure of nitrogen increases and more nitrogen becomes dissolved in the blood. This high nitrogen concentration impairs the conduction of nerve impulses and mimics the effects of alcohol or narcotics. The symptoms of nitrogen narcosis include: dizziness; giddiness; euphoria; loss of balance; disorientation; loss of manual dexterity; slowing of reaction time; fixation of ideas; and impairment of complex reasoning. These effects are exacerbated by cold and stress. The effects of nitrogen narcosis are totally reversed as the gas pressure decreases. They are typically gone by the time the diver returns to a water depth of 60 ft. Nitrogen narcosis has no hangover or lasting effects requiring further treatment unless the affected diver had lost consciousness during the dive.