IS EXCESSIVE USE OFOXYGEN HARMFUL? Elvidio Miranda Without doubt it will be universally agreed that the air that we breathe besides oxygen contains about 78 percent of nitrogen and now a days due to the use of fossil fuels such as coal and petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel varying degrees of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides which are a direct consequence of the amount of pollution in any particular area. Could scientists and the medical fraternity from their experience on the use of medical oxygen which contains 90 percent of oxygen shed more light on the harmful effects of administering on medical oxygen that could harm the respiratory system? It is known that oxygen poisoning occurs as a consequence of excessive oxygen and although medical oxygen is regulated when administering, would it safe in all cases. Oxygen intake is converted into oxy haemoglobin in the lungs which then transports it to all the extremities of the body. It is known that nitrogen which is present to the extent of 78 percent is an inert gas and could it be that medical oxygen which contains only 5 percent of nitrogen be harmful? It would be prudent to eliminate the use of excessive oxygen if it could be harmful.
