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Chemistry

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    $\begingroup$ @AaronAbraham: Some of the use-cases for HBOT are things that reduce blood oxygen (e.g. CO poisoning or lung injuries), but I'm curious about other use-cases. Maybe they monitor for signs of oxygen toxicity and stop the treatment if necessary? Otherwise, maybe it's worth the risk or small amount of damage? Maybe it matters that you're at rest during HBOT, not exercising by swimming around? (breathing more shallowly?) $\endgroup$
    – Peter Cordes
    Commented Oct 23, 2016 at 10:33
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    $\begingroup$ " It is not itself flammable, but it makes every nearby organic thing flammable." - define "flammable". $\endgroup$
    – John Dvorak
    Commented Oct 23, 2016 at 12:26
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    $\begingroup$ Grease on your hand does not ignite when it gets in contact with pure oxygen at ambient pressure. An oily cloth is something different, there the heat can build up. $\endgroup$
    – Karl
    Commented Oct 23, 2016 at 12:48
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    $\begingroup$ @JanDvorak : Don't really want to get pulled into that quagmire. However, the NFPA placard for oxygen lists Flammability: 0. The USCG CHRIS code lists oxygen as "not flammable". The DOT places compressed oxygen in class 2, "Non-flammable gas". So, by appeal to various authorities, I'm comfortable calling (even compressed) oxygen "not flammable". (Several of these note that oxygen can enhance combustion, a sentiment with which I heartily agree.) $\endgroup$
    – Eric Towers
    Commented Oct 23, 2016 at 23:43
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    $\begingroup$ @nworb99 : Deeper dives involve switching gasses to mixtures with lower oxygen partial pressure. You may find the term "bottom gas" to describe the mixture to be used at maximal depth. (Beware "nitrogen" narcosis, a different hyperbaric inert gas hazard not discussed in this answer.) Trimix 12/52 (12% oxygen, 52% helium, 36% nitrogen) has a partial pressure of ~1.3 atm at 100 m (equivalent to air at 43 m). (Although helium is not magic. See high pressure nervous syndrome.) $\endgroup$
    – Eric Towers
    Commented Oct 23, 2016 at 23:54