Wikipedia:Today's featured article/August 31, 2009



Oxygen toxicity is a condition resulting from the harmful effects of breathing molecular oxygen at elevated partial pressures. Severe cases can result in cell damage and death, with effects most often seen in the central nervous system, lungs and eyes. Oxygen toxicity is a concern for scuba divers, those on high concentrations of supplemental oxygen (particularly premature babies), and those undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The result of breathing elevated concentrations of oxygen is hyperoxia, an excess of oxygen in body tissues. Central nervous system toxicity is caused by short exposure to high concentrations of oxygen at greater than atmospheric pressure. Pulmonary and ocular toxicity result from longer exposure to elevated oxygen levels at normal pressure. Symptoms may include disorientation, breathing problems, and vision changes such as myopia. Prolonged or very high oxygen concentrations can cause oxidative damage to cell membranes, the collapse of the alveoli in the lungs, retinal detachment, and seizures. Oxygen toxicity is managed by reducing the exposure to elevated oxygen levels. Studies show that, in the long term, a good recovery from most types of oxygen toxicity is possible. Prevention of oxygen toxicity is an important precaution whenever oxygen is breathed at partial pressures greater than normal. It has led to use of protocols for avoidance of hyperoxia in such fields as scuba diving, hyperbaric medicine, neonatal care and human spaceflight. (more...)

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