Argon Enviorment Spelunking

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











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Monster Slayer Stan, we are in dire need of your help! The caves in our nearby mountain are filling up with a dense but non-toxic gas that is protecting a monster's nest. The monsters are weak but are hiding deep in the caves. We need you to go in and destroy their nest.



In another world building answer it states that people who breath in argon have a risk of asphyxiation, how soon would Stan notice the environment was 95% argon? After breathing in that much argon and escaping, how long until Stan can breath properly again?










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  • You don't specify the level of technology available to Stan the Monster Slayer.
    – RonJohn
    1 hour ago










  • @RonJohn assume medieval tech, but Stan is a brave fool. He will run in the first time without any preparation
    – Reed
    1 hour ago














up vote
2
down vote

favorite












Monster Slayer Stan, we are in dire need of your help! The caves in our nearby mountain are filling up with a dense but non-toxic gas that is protecting a monster's nest. The monsters are weak but are hiding deep in the caves. We need you to go in and destroy their nest.



In another world building answer it states that people who breath in argon have a risk of asphyxiation, how soon would Stan notice the environment was 95% argon? After breathing in that much argon and escaping, how long until Stan can breath properly again?










share|improve this question





















  • You don't specify the level of technology available to Stan the Monster Slayer.
    – RonJohn
    1 hour ago










  • @RonJohn assume medieval tech, but Stan is a brave fool. He will run in the first time without any preparation
    – Reed
    1 hour ago












up vote
2
down vote

favorite









up vote
2
down vote

favorite











Monster Slayer Stan, we are in dire need of your help! The caves in our nearby mountain are filling up with a dense but non-toxic gas that is protecting a monster's nest. The monsters are weak but are hiding deep in the caves. We need you to go in and destroy their nest.



In another world building answer it states that people who breath in argon have a risk of asphyxiation, how soon would Stan notice the environment was 95% argon? After breathing in that much argon and escaping, how long until Stan can breath properly again?










share|improve this question













Monster Slayer Stan, we are in dire need of your help! The caves in our nearby mountain are filling up with a dense but non-toxic gas that is protecting a monster's nest. The monsters are weak but are hiding deep in the caves. We need you to go in and destroy their nest.



In another world building answer it states that people who breath in argon have a risk of asphyxiation, how soon would Stan notice the environment was 95% argon? After breathing in that much argon and escaping, how long until Stan can breath properly again?







science-based biology atmosphere






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share|improve this question










asked 1 hour ago









Reed

1,642411




1,642411











  • You don't specify the level of technology available to Stan the Monster Slayer.
    – RonJohn
    1 hour ago










  • @RonJohn assume medieval tech, but Stan is a brave fool. He will run in the first time without any preparation
    – Reed
    1 hour ago
















  • You don't specify the level of technology available to Stan the Monster Slayer.
    – RonJohn
    1 hour ago










  • @RonJohn assume medieval tech, but Stan is a brave fool. He will run in the first time without any preparation
    – Reed
    1 hour ago















You don't specify the level of technology available to Stan the Monster Slayer.
– RonJohn
1 hour ago




You don't specify the level of technology available to Stan the Monster Slayer.
– RonJohn
1 hour ago












@RonJohn assume medieval tech, but Stan is a brave fool. He will run in the first time without any preparation
– Reed
1 hour ago




@RonJohn assume medieval tech, but Stan is a brave fool. He will run in the first time without any preparation
– Reed
1 hour ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
7
down vote













Stan will not notice he is suffocating. He will pass out and die.



Our need to breathe is triggered by accumulation of CO2. High levels of CO2, even with adequate oxygen, will provoke the sensation of shortness of breath and suffocation.



In contrast (for normal healthy people like Stan), if there is not high CO2 you feel no particular need to breathe from progressively lower levels of O2. When your O2 gets low enough you just pass out. This is called shallow water blackout.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freediving_blackout




Shallow water blackout which occurs when all phases of the dive have taken place in
shallow water (i.e., where depressurisation is not a significant
factor) and typically involves dynamic apnea distance swimmers,
usually in a swimming pool. The mechanism for this type of shallow
water blackout is hypoxia expedited by hypocapnia caused by voluntary
hyperventilation before the dive. Blackouts which occur in swimming
pools are probably driven only by excessive hyperventilation, with no
significant influence of pressure change. This can also be
described as constant pressure blackout or isobaric blackout.




This happened to me once from breathing helium to make my voice high. I blew out my air and breathed a lungful of helium and talked squeaky. When it was gone I took another breath of helium. Then I came to under a table.



In this circumstance, Stan has argon instead of helium. Argon does fine clearing CO2 out of the lungs and so he will not notice anything wrong. It is a pretty good defense for those monsters.






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  • 1




    Such a good answer, I deleted my own.
    – RonJohn
    1 hour ago

















up vote
3
down vote













With 95% argon (oxygen can be 5% or can be 0%), Stan would likely lose consciousness within a minute - without feeling any suffocation alarms. If he is somehow brought into the normal atmosphere, it will take him a few minutes to get back no normal, assuming there was no permanent damage to his nervous system.



Inert gas asphyxiation is a more sneaky killer than typical (smog or excessive carbon dioxide) asphyxiation because a person does not feel much until losing consciousness.






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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    7
    down vote













    Stan will not notice he is suffocating. He will pass out and die.



    Our need to breathe is triggered by accumulation of CO2. High levels of CO2, even with adequate oxygen, will provoke the sensation of shortness of breath and suffocation.



    In contrast (for normal healthy people like Stan), if there is not high CO2 you feel no particular need to breathe from progressively lower levels of O2. When your O2 gets low enough you just pass out. This is called shallow water blackout.



    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freediving_blackout




    Shallow water blackout which occurs when all phases of the dive have taken place in
    shallow water (i.e., where depressurisation is not a significant
    factor) and typically involves dynamic apnea distance swimmers,
    usually in a swimming pool. The mechanism for this type of shallow
    water blackout is hypoxia expedited by hypocapnia caused by voluntary
    hyperventilation before the dive. Blackouts which occur in swimming
    pools are probably driven only by excessive hyperventilation, with no
    significant influence of pressure change. This can also be
    described as constant pressure blackout or isobaric blackout.




    This happened to me once from breathing helium to make my voice high. I blew out my air and breathed a lungful of helium and talked squeaky. When it was gone I took another breath of helium. Then I came to under a table.



    In this circumstance, Stan has argon instead of helium. Argon does fine clearing CO2 out of the lungs and so he will not notice anything wrong. It is a pretty good defense for those monsters.






    share|improve this answer
















    • 1




      Such a good answer, I deleted my own.
      – RonJohn
      1 hour ago














    up vote
    7
    down vote













    Stan will not notice he is suffocating. He will pass out and die.



    Our need to breathe is triggered by accumulation of CO2. High levels of CO2, even with adequate oxygen, will provoke the sensation of shortness of breath and suffocation.



    In contrast (for normal healthy people like Stan), if there is not high CO2 you feel no particular need to breathe from progressively lower levels of O2. When your O2 gets low enough you just pass out. This is called shallow water blackout.



    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freediving_blackout




    Shallow water blackout which occurs when all phases of the dive have taken place in
    shallow water (i.e., where depressurisation is not a significant
    factor) and typically involves dynamic apnea distance swimmers,
    usually in a swimming pool. The mechanism for this type of shallow
    water blackout is hypoxia expedited by hypocapnia caused by voluntary
    hyperventilation before the dive. Blackouts which occur in swimming
    pools are probably driven only by excessive hyperventilation, with no
    significant influence of pressure change. This can also be
    described as constant pressure blackout or isobaric blackout.




    This happened to me once from breathing helium to make my voice high. I blew out my air and breathed a lungful of helium and talked squeaky. When it was gone I took another breath of helium. Then I came to under a table.



    In this circumstance, Stan has argon instead of helium. Argon does fine clearing CO2 out of the lungs and so he will not notice anything wrong. It is a pretty good defense for those monsters.






    share|improve this answer
















    • 1




      Such a good answer, I deleted my own.
      – RonJohn
      1 hour ago












    up vote
    7
    down vote










    up vote
    7
    down vote









    Stan will not notice he is suffocating. He will pass out and die.



    Our need to breathe is triggered by accumulation of CO2. High levels of CO2, even with adequate oxygen, will provoke the sensation of shortness of breath and suffocation.



    In contrast (for normal healthy people like Stan), if there is not high CO2 you feel no particular need to breathe from progressively lower levels of O2. When your O2 gets low enough you just pass out. This is called shallow water blackout.



    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freediving_blackout




    Shallow water blackout which occurs when all phases of the dive have taken place in
    shallow water (i.e., where depressurisation is not a significant
    factor) and typically involves dynamic apnea distance swimmers,
    usually in a swimming pool. The mechanism for this type of shallow
    water blackout is hypoxia expedited by hypocapnia caused by voluntary
    hyperventilation before the dive. Blackouts which occur in swimming
    pools are probably driven only by excessive hyperventilation, with no
    significant influence of pressure change. This can also be
    described as constant pressure blackout or isobaric blackout.




    This happened to me once from breathing helium to make my voice high. I blew out my air and breathed a lungful of helium and talked squeaky. When it was gone I took another breath of helium. Then I came to under a table.



    In this circumstance, Stan has argon instead of helium. Argon does fine clearing CO2 out of the lungs and so he will not notice anything wrong. It is a pretty good defense for those monsters.






    share|improve this answer












    Stan will not notice he is suffocating. He will pass out and die.



    Our need to breathe is triggered by accumulation of CO2. High levels of CO2, even with adequate oxygen, will provoke the sensation of shortness of breath and suffocation.



    In contrast (for normal healthy people like Stan), if there is not high CO2 you feel no particular need to breathe from progressively lower levels of O2. When your O2 gets low enough you just pass out. This is called shallow water blackout.



    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freediving_blackout




    Shallow water blackout which occurs when all phases of the dive have taken place in
    shallow water (i.e., where depressurisation is not a significant
    factor) and typically involves dynamic apnea distance swimmers,
    usually in a swimming pool. The mechanism for this type of shallow
    water blackout is hypoxia expedited by hypocapnia caused by voluntary
    hyperventilation before the dive. Blackouts which occur in swimming
    pools are probably driven only by excessive hyperventilation, with no
    significant influence of pressure change. This can also be
    described as constant pressure blackout or isobaric blackout.




    This happened to me once from breathing helium to make my voice high. I blew out my air and breathed a lungful of helium and talked squeaky. When it was gone I took another breath of helium. Then I came to under a table.



    In this circumstance, Stan has argon instead of helium. Argon does fine clearing CO2 out of the lungs and so he will not notice anything wrong. It is a pretty good defense for those monsters.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 1 hour ago









    Willk

    91.1k22176388




    91.1k22176388







    • 1




      Such a good answer, I deleted my own.
      – RonJohn
      1 hour ago












    • 1




      Such a good answer, I deleted my own.
      – RonJohn
      1 hour ago







    1




    1




    Such a good answer, I deleted my own.
    – RonJohn
    1 hour ago




    Such a good answer, I deleted my own.
    – RonJohn
    1 hour ago










    up vote
    3
    down vote













    With 95% argon (oxygen can be 5% or can be 0%), Stan would likely lose consciousness within a minute - without feeling any suffocation alarms. If he is somehow brought into the normal atmosphere, it will take him a few minutes to get back no normal, assuming there was no permanent damage to his nervous system.



    Inert gas asphyxiation is a more sneaky killer than typical (smog or excessive carbon dioxide) asphyxiation because a person does not feel much until losing consciousness.






    share|improve this answer
























      up vote
      3
      down vote













      With 95% argon (oxygen can be 5% or can be 0%), Stan would likely lose consciousness within a minute - without feeling any suffocation alarms. If he is somehow brought into the normal atmosphere, it will take him a few minutes to get back no normal, assuming there was no permanent damage to his nervous system.



      Inert gas asphyxiation is a more sneaky killer than typical (smog or excessive carbon dioxide) asphyxiation because a person does not feel much until losing consciousness.






      share|improve this answer






















        up vote
        3
        down vote










        up vote
        3
        down vote









        With 95% argon (oxygen can be 5% or can be 0%), Stan would likely lose consciousness within a minute - without feeling any suffocation alarms. If he is somehow brought into the normal atmosphere, it will take him a few minutes to get back no normal, assuming there was no permanent damage to his nervous system.



        Inert gas asphyxiation is a more sneaky killer than typical (smog or excessive carbon dioxide) asphyxiation because a person does not feel much until losing consciousness.






        share|improve this answer












        With 95% argon (oxygen can be 5% or can be 0%), Stan would likely lose consciousness within a minute - without feeling any suffocation alarms. If he is somehow brought into the normal atmosphere, it will take him a few minutes to get back no normal, assuming there was no permanent damage to his nervous system.



        Inert gas asphyxiation is a more sneaky killer than typical (smog or excessive carbon dioxide) asphyxiation because a person does not feel much until losing consciousness.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 1 hour ago









        Alexander

        17.2k42967




        17.2k42967



























             

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