Chapter III · AIR

AIR

CONSTITUENTS OF AIR

General Considerations AIR, MIXTURE OF GASES ATMOSPHERE AQUASPHERE PETROSPHERE FUNCTION OF AIR Oxygen PER CENT OF OXYGEN USE IN BODY AMOUNT REQUIRED VARIES Nitrogen MORE IMPORTANT TO PLANT LIFE USE IN BODY Argon MEANING OF NAME AMOUNT IN ATMOSPHERE ARGON GROUP Carbon Dioxide AMOUNT IN AIR SOURCES OF PROPERTIES OF COURSE IN BLOOD Ozone NOT CONSTANT ELEMENT WHERE FOUND HOW FORMED Ammonia HOW PRODUCED WHERE FOUND Other Constituents HYDROGEN PEROXIDE HELIUM KRYPTON NEON XENON NITROGEN AND SULPHURIC ACID

AIR PRESSURE

Normal Air Pressure AVERAGE PRESSURE INTELLECTUAL ADAPTATION Reduced Air Pressure INCREASED RATE OF BREATHING EXPERIMENT SYMPTOMS IN REDUCED AIR PRESSURE Increased Air Pressure CONDITIONS IN SAME DANGER FROM Caisson Dis-ease SEVERE PAIN IN MUSCLES AND JOINTS DIVER’S PALSY BENDS

HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE OF AIR

Humidity RELATIVE ABSOLUTE Cold Dry Air ADAPTING BODY TO CHANGE HEAT STROKE HEAT EVAPORATION NECESSARY Warm Moist Air INTERFERENCE IN ADAPTATION EFFECTS UPON BODY Cold Damp Air PRODUCES CHILLING OF BODY INTERFERES WITH INTELLECTUAL ADAPTATION Warm Dry Air VERY DESIRABLE LOSS OF MOISTURE FROM BODY Proper Temperature and Humidity

CHAPTER III

AIR

CONSTITUENTS OF AIR

Air is a mixture of gases, not a chemical compound, which envelops the earth and it is estimated to be at least one hundred miles high. This gaseous envelope is known as the atmosphere. The water upon the earth’s surface is called the aquasphere. The solid substance composing the earth is known as the petrosphere.

Air performs a very important function in the interchanging of gases in respiration and in the regulation of bodily temperature. The gases contained in the atmosphere are given by most authorities in the following proportions, per volume:

Oxygen 20.93%

Nitrogen 78.10%

Argon 0.94%

Carbon Dioxide 0.03%

With traces of helium, krypton, neon, xenon, hydrogen, ammonia, ozone and hydrogen peroxide.

It is also found that there is a varying amount of water in the air, as well as dust and other substances. It is worthy of note that the air maintains a wonderful uniformity of composition over the entire surface of the earth. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that the atmosphere is in constant motion which maintains its proper mixture. It must also be noted that the air is not a chemical compound but is a mixture of gases.

Oxygen (O)

Probably the most important element in air is the oxygen which represents about one-fifth of its composition. This percentage is maintained with very slight variation; for instance, the percentage of oxygen in towns will be slightly less than 20.93%, about 20.87%.

When the atmosphere contains only 11% or 12% of oxygen it becomes dangerous, and death results when the percentage gets as low as 7.2%. A candle will not burn with the oxygen at 16%. Slight variation in the amount of oxygen is of no special importance.

The amount of oxygen in the air has little to do with the amount absorbed in respiration, as this is governed more by the need of the body than by the amount taken into the lungs.

Nature has made a wonderful provision in the protection of the body from extreme changes in the amount of oxygen in the air. This provision increases the degree of intellectual adaptation which is possible in the body. This is shown by the fact that there is a larger amount of oxygen contained at all times in the lungs than is required to supply the red blood cells. It is maintained that the alveolar air contains normally 16% of oxygen. The red blood cells are practically saturated with oxygen as they leave the lungs; however, this amount of oxygen may not be needed by the tissue cells which the red blood cells supply and the amount they absorb upon their return will depend upon what they have given off to the tissue cells.

It can readily be seen that the air in the lungs at no time contains the full percentage of oxygen, since one at no time completely exhales the entire amount of air. In this way the residual air loses some of its oxygen and collects carbon dioxide.

Animal life is sustained by the oxygen in the air while the carbon dioxide is essential to plant life. The oxygen is carried into the lungs during the inhalation which is produced by the expression of Innate Intelligence through the organs of respiration. The oxygen passes into the blood and is combined loosely with the hemoglobin of the red blood corpuscles; then under the direction of Innate it is carried to all the tissue cells of the body. Here the oxygen leaves the blood and is used in the oxidation which is necessary in the metabolism of the body.

The amount of required oxygen varies with different conditions that obtain in the body and is dependent upon age, the activity of the individual and his condition of health. Some authors assert that the average person will inhale about thirty-four pounds of air in twenty-four hours. This would mean a little over seven pounds of oxygen. Only about one-fourth of the oxygen inhaled is absorbed; therefore, according to these figures the individual would absorb on an average of about two pounds of oxygen in twenty-four hours.

Nitrogen (N)

The nitrogen in the air is of more importance to plant life than to animal life. It is of little significance from a hygienic standpoint, yet it is an important constituent of all matter containing protein. Nitrogen tends to regulate or influence the rate of combustion by diluting the oxygen in the air. Respiration does not seem to affect the amount of nitrogen in the air as there is no noticeable difference between the amount of nitrogen in the inspired and expired air.

Argon (A)

In 1894 Lord Rayleigh and Prof. William Ramsay discovered a gaseous substance in the atmosphere which had no chemical affinity. They gave this element the name argon which means in the Greek, “inactive.” So far as is known argon will not combine with any other element.

The atmosphere contains about 0.94% argon, but so far, according to Rosenau, it has not been demonstrated in the body. Argon has no hygienic significance. Helium, krypton, xenon, neon and argon form what is known as the argon group, since they will not unite with other elements to form compounds. These elements are all found in very small quantities in the atmosphere.

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

Carbon dioxide is a gas, a very small amount of which is found in the atmosphere. About 0.03% is ordinarily expressed. This means there are three parts of carbon dioxide in 10,000 parts of atmosphere. This is a very small percentage, but when we consider the enormous bulk of atmosphere we appreciate the fact that the total amount is beyond our comprehension. It is claimed that there is more carbon in the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide than there is in all other forms on the earth.

In densely populated areas there is a slight increase in the amount of carbon dioxide. It may reach 0.04% or even 0.05%. There is also likely to be more carbon dioxide in the air close to the soil than there is a few feet above. This is because the processes going on in the soil tend to produce this gas and hence the soil air contains a larger percentage. The air receives its carbon dioxide from such sources as respiration, fermentation, from chemical action in the soil, from mineral springs, and from oxidation of organic matter.

Carbon dioxide is a transparent, odorless and colorless gas. It is a very important constituent in the atmosphere and a very slight variation either in its increase or decrease will vitally interfere with both animal and vegetable life. Green plants in the sunlight absorb great quantities of carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. The body obtains its carbon from the food that is taken in while the oxygen is obtained from the air that is breathed. It is maintained that one acre of ordinary tree land will withdraw as much as four and one-half tons of carbon dioxide from the air in one season. Carbon dioxide is also absorbed by water; hence the oceans and other large bodies of water perform a very important function in this respect. In certain localities, such as industrial centers, a very large amount of carbon dioxide is given off into the air; but this is quickly taken up and thoroughly mixed with the atmosphere by the constant motion which is maintained by the varying temperature, air pressure and other involved factors. It is not allowed to accumulate in any one place in larger amounts than normal. In this way the proportion is kept the same at all times.

Hygienists maintain that the regulation of breathing is largely dependent on the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air cells of the lungs. This, however, is not true since the process of respiration is not a question of chemical action nor the influence of any chemical element in the lungs or in any part of the respiratory system. The breathing, like all other functions of the body, is under the direct control of Innate Intelligence within the body.

Innate Intelligence, recognizing the need for more oxygen in the tissue cells, will bring about an intellectual adaptation by increasing the respiration. This does not take place, however, until the need has exceeded the already adaptative possibility when the reserve amount of oxygen contained in the residual air in the lungs has been exhausted.

In inspiration the air is taken into the lungs and the oxygen is taken up by the hemoglobin of the blood as before stated; then the oxygen is given off to the tissue cells. The hemoglobin absorbs the carbon dioxide from the tissues and it is then carried back to the lungs where the process is reversed. That is, the carbon dioxide is given off and the oxygen is absorbed by the hemoglobin.

The carbon dioxide which is carried to the lungs by the venous blood escapes into the air cells. The resistance which it meets here depends upon the percentage of carbon dioxide present in the alveolar air. Normally the percentage of the carbon dioxide in the alveolar air is maintained at a pressure of about 5% of an atmosphere. If the pressure becomes less than this Innate Intelligence will adapt herself to this condition by decreasing the respiration until the normal percentage is again attained; or if the pressure goes above normal Innate will increase the rate of respiration until the amount of carbon dioxide has been decreased in the alveolar air, for this poisonous gas must be eliminated. This shows how Innate at all times is working in an adaptative way to maintain equilibrium in the body.

Ozone (O₃)

Ozone is not a constant element in air, although of such potency that a very small amount may be of great importance. In centers of population it is usually absent. In thickly wooded sections and at sea it will be found in large quantities, but even here only traces will be found. It is thought to be formed by the friction of the sea water against the air in connection with the respiration of vegetation. It is also formed in nature by electric discharges during storms.

Ammonia (NH₃)

Normally there is only a trace of ammonia in air. It is produced by the decomposition of organic matter. This accounts for the larger amount being found in the air near the ground. Ground air may contain ammonia in sufficient quantity to be perceptible to the senses.

Other Constituents

Hydrogen peroxide is a very active oxidizing agent. Rain water and snow contain very small traces of it. Hydrogen peroxide is not constant in air, but may be found in very small quantities.

Air also contains small traces of helium, krypton, neon, xenon, which have no important bearing from a hygienic standpoint. Nitric, sulphuric and other acids will at times be found in the atmosphere. These acids are formed principally from industrial processes and will, therefore, be found near industrial centers, rather than in the open country or at sea.