SkimFisher
Contributor
I think I have a pretty basic understanding of how loading works: greater depth>greater pressure>increased density/concentration of gasses under pressure>increased solubility of gasses under pressure>the body's inability to metabolize inert gasses (nitrogen, helium, whatever ISN'T oxygen)>excess inert gas dissolved into body tissue. Is that a fairly accurate, high-level grasp of what's going on?
In terms of off-gassing though, what's the actual mechanism? Every article I read just uses the term "off-gassing" without much explanation of what's actually going on. What I'm taking that to mean is that as you decompress/leave depth, the gasses drop out of solution due to the decrease in ambient pressure and are "off-gassed" via gas exchange in the lungs.
Before I ask the real question, I want to make sure that I've at least got a grasp on these two concepts. Am I more or less there?
In terms of off-gassing though, what's the actual mechanism? Every article I read just uses the term "off-gassing" without much explanation of what's actually going on. What I'm taking that to mean is that as you decompress/leave depth, the gasses drop out of solution due to the decrease in ambient pressure and are "off-gassed" via gas exchange in the lungs.
Before I ask the real question, I want to make sure that I've at least got a grasp on these two concepts. Am I more or less there?