Oxygen consumption by humans when breathing gas mixtures with a high argon content

Abstract

The aim of the study was a comparative assessment of oxygen consumption by a person when staying in gaseous environments with different argon content to confirm its antihypoxic effect. 24 male subjects aged 19–26 years were examined, divided into 3 groups of equal size. For 60 minutes, the subjects of all groups were exposed to environments with normal oxygen content (20.9 % vol.) and varying argon content. Volunteers of the 1st group – in atmospheric air conditions; the subjects of the 2nd group – in a gaseous environment with an argon content of 35 % by volume, nitrogen content – 44.1 % by volume; Subjects of the 3rd group – in an environment with an argon content of 79.1 % vol. During the study, the volunteers‘ oxygen consumption (VO₂) was determined. As a result of the research, it was found that no significant changes in VO₂ were noted in group 1; Groups 2 and 3 showed an average decrease in VO₂ of 10 % and 15 %, respectively. The data obtained showed that partial or complete replacement of nitrogen with argon in the ambient air leads to a dose-dependent decrease in oxygen consumption by the body. This fact, in our opinion, confirms the antihypoxic biological activity of argon.