Extension of pulmonary O2 tolerance in man at 2 ATA by intermittent O2 exposure

To study extension of O2 tolerance by interruption of hyperoxic exposure, five healthy volunteers were exposed to oxygen at 2 ATA on an intermittent schedule of 20 min breathing O2, alternating with 5 min on a normoxic N2-O2 mixture. The cycle was repeated until symptoms or signs of O2 toxicity caused cessation of the experiment. Tracheal irritation and burning on inspiration occurred after 6-9 'oxygen hours' of exposure and progressed to severe tracheobronchial burning sensation, chest pain, and dyspnea after 11-15 h of O2. With intermittent O2 administration, nearly a doubling of the average duration of actual oxygen breathing was required to induce marked vital capacity change (more than 10%) as compared to the previous studies of continuous O2 exposure.