Psychotropic state induced by breathing hydrogen at high partial pressures
Hydrogen narcosis (also known as the hydrogen effect) is the
psychotropic state induced by breathing
hydrogen at high pressures. Hydrogen narcosis produces symptoms such as hallucinations, disorientation, and confusion, which are similar to
hallucinogenic drugs. It can be experienced by
deep-sea divers who dive to 300 m (1,000 ft) below sea level breathing hydrogen mixtures.[1] However, hydrogen has far less narcotic effect than nitrogen (which causes the better known
nitrogen narcosis) and is very rarely used in diving. In tests of the effect of hydrogen narcosis, where divers dived to 500 m (1,600 ft) with a hydrogen–helium–oxygen (
hydreliox) mixture containing 49% hydrogen, it was found that while the narcotic effect of hydrogen was detectable, the
neurological symptoms of
high-pressure nervous syndrome were only moderate.[2][3]
See also
Nitrogen narcosis – Reversible narcotic effects of respiratory nitrogen at elevated partial pressures
^Rostain, JC; Gardette-Chauffour, MC; Lemaire, C; Naquet, R (1988). "Effects of a H2-He-O2 mixture on the HPNS up to 450 msw". Undersea Biomedical Research. 15 (4): 257–70.
ISSN0093-5387.
OCLC2068005.
PMID3212843.