What term describes the condition of having excess oxygen in the body?

The condition characterized by having excess oxygen in the body is known as oxygen toxicity. When divers breathe gas mixtures that contain a high percentage of oxygen, particularly at increased pressures, it can lead to harmful physiological effects. These symptoms can manifest in various forms, including visual disturbances, seizures, and lung damage, depending on the level of oxygen exposure and the duration of the exposure.

In the context of diving with enriched air nitrox, understanding oxygen toxicity is crucial since nitrox blends with higher oxygen levels can enhance the risk of this condition if divers exceed recommended operational depths. Awareness of the partial pressure of oxygen and adhering to proper dive tables or guidelines ensures a safe diving experience.

While decompression sickness, nitrogen narcosis, and barotrauma are also important divers’ ailments, they relate to different conditions—decompression sickness involves nitrogen bubbles forming in the body, nitrogen narcosis results from high levels of nitrogen affecting cognitive function, and barotrauma occurs due to pressure changes affecting air-filled spaces in the body.