BY ARKADI F. PROKOPOV, MD

A new technique to prevent fires in protected facilities with nitrogen-enriched, or oxygen-reduced air, which leads to an oxygen concentration between 12% and 15% in normobaric atmospheres is equivalent to the hypobaric atmospheres found at 2,700 and 4,500-m altitudes, where several million high-altitude residents spend their life,i.e.Mexico City,LaPaz,Boulder,Tibet and many others.

When acutely exposed to low partial pressure of oxygen, a healthy person responds within minutes to hours with increased ventilation, stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, increased heart rate, increased pulmonary-circulation resistance, reduced plasma volume and stimulation of red blood cells production. Acute mountain sickness occurs in some persons at these oxygen partial pressures, but the full syndrome is rare if continuous exposure is limited to 6 to 8 hours. Mood cognitive and psychomotor functions may be initially mildly impaired in these conditions in some individuals, but improve gradually under repeated exposures.

Accumulated evidence suggests that working environments with low oxygen concentrations to a minimum of 12% and normal barometric pressure do not impose a serious health hazard, provided that precautions are observed, comprising medical examinations and limitation of exposure time.However,attention should be paid to workers performing strenuous tasks or having various diseases. Persons suffering from cardiac, pulmonary, or hematological diseases should consult a specialist in order for their individual risk to be assessed, and medical screening for any of these diseases is strongly recommended prior to prolonged exposure or work in such atmosphere.

Close monitoring of the health problems of people living and working in low oxygen atmospheres show numerous health benefits, stimulated by gradual adaptation to hypoxia

Available literature and references on low oxygen air, as follows;
Abraini JH Bouquet F,et al (1998) Cognitive
Performance during a simulated climb of Mount Everest
Implications of the brain function and central adaptive processes
Under chronic hypoxic stress.Pflugers Arch 436:553:559
Agostoni P Cattadori G,Guazzi M et al (2000) effects of simulated altitude-induced hypoxia on exercise capacity in patients
With chronic heart failure. AM J MED 109:450:455
G.Kotliar (FirePass Corp)
W.Wagner (Wagner Alarm)

THE BENEFITS OF ALTITUDE TRAINING

Are derived from the body’s adaptive physiological responses to altitude acclimatization, as altitude increases, the partial pressure of oxygen decreases in proportion to the reduction in the atmospheric barometric pressure and the rate of oxygen transfer from the lungs to the bloods cells. This results in proportionately less oxygen being delivered to the tissues of the body. In response to reduced tissue oxygenation, a variety of physiological adaptations occur that collectively result in oxygen delivery to the tissues. Altitude acclimatization results in the following physiological changes;

· Increased alveolar ventilation rates increases rate of oxygen uptake in the lungs
· Increased tidal volume resulting in increased capacity for oxygen exchange in the lungs
· Increased VO2 Max increased oxygen consumption resulting in improved aerobic power output
· Increased respiratory muscle strength, improved respiratory efficiency
· Increased circulating red blood cell mass increases oxygen transport capacity
· Increased concentration of 2,3,DPG in red blood cells facilitates release of oxygen from the red blood to the skeletal muscle
· Rightward shift in the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve increase affinity for hemoglobin to release oxygen to the skeletal muscles
· Improved theological properties of red blood cells improve blood flow through micro-capillary beds in muscles
· Increased oxidative enzyme capacity in the muscles improved aerobic capacity and higher anaerobic threshold

IMPROVED AEROBIC POWER AND ENDURANCE

· Increased VO2 MAX
· Change in substrate utilization from muscle glycogen to fat and carbohydrates metabolism prolonged aerobic energy cycles
· Increased blood buffering capacity results in lower lactate and higher aerobic thresholds
· Increased mitochondria concentration of skeletal muscle increase aerobic capacity and higher anaerobic thresholds

IMPROVED CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS

· Lower peak exertional heart rates allows for greater cardiac reserves
· Improves diastolic filling of heart chambers allows for greater heart efficiency
· Increase stroke volume and total cardiac output allows for more cardiac efficiency
· Improved myocardial energy utilization allows for greater cardiac endurance
· Greater cardiac reserves allows for improved endurance

COLORADO ALTITUDE TRAINING

After United States long track speed skaters won a record eight medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics, U.S. speed skating had a problem. The athletes had proven conclusively the benefits of altitude training, living year round in rarefied air at 6,700 feet in Park City, Utah, and “coming down” to train in Salt Lake City. The problem was what to do about the Pettit National Ice Center. So the organization decided to move Park City To southeast Wisconsin, or more accurately, the altitude.

Sophisticated machinery in the sealed rooms can simulate altitude up to 15,000 feet. The rooms allow as many as 24 athletes to continue to live at” altitude” when they visit Wisconsin to train or compete. Research has shown that altitude training can result in a 3 to 5% increase in speed and endurance.(Gary D’Amato posted 12/16/04)Some of the greatest Olympian and world class athletes have trained in high altitudes.Mostof us have flown in an airplane where the oxygen concentration level is 16% with no ill effects.

BREATHING HYPOXIC AIR

The main reason breathing in an oxygen reduced atmosphere is easier then ambient air is because the air pressure is normal (normobaric).While safety standards vary throughout the world, we feel comfortable in complying with all of OCCUPATIONAL Safety Health Agency (OSHA), requirements in the USA.In Europe the trade unions have agreed to work in the atmosphere for 6 straight hours before a 30 minute break to ambient air. Persons with illness to oxygen absorption or oxygen transport could be at risk from reduced oxygen, particulary serious heart and lung disease. For this reason we stipulate that a preliminary examination must be administered by a medical doctor.

Medical knowledge about this new technology’s effect on humans was gathered from mountain climbing, flight, military, skiers, and sports medicine. There should be no health problems or issues related to working in hypoxic atmospheres if the above safety standards are followed. There are hundreds of case studies all indicating positive results from this environment available on our web site or simply request a copy.