Why do gas detectors detect oxygen?
Toxic gas detectors and indoor air quality detectors are equipped with professional oxygen sensors to detect oxygen. What is the reason?
Oxygen depletion occurs due to chemical and biological reactions in confined spaces that displace and consume oxygen. Chemical consumption of oxygen occurs through combustion, and bacterial fermentation can also lead to hypoxia. Bacterial activity in caves and manholes near swampy areas, landfills or dumps can also lead to hypoxia. The use of compressed gases, liquefied gases, and volatile liquids, even in a well-ventilated space, may displace enough oxygen to cause hypoxia.
Oxygen delivery is necessary to sustain life. Lack of oxygen can lead to health hazards and even death. The main cause of impeded escape from hypoxic areas is disorientation and loss of consciousness caused by hypoxia. The hypoxic environment defined by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) respiratory protection standard (29CFR1910.134) is that the volume of oxygen in the air is less than 19.5%.
Exposure to low levels of oxygen, usually less than 16% at sea level, can cause a decrease in cardiac performance, vision, and muscle coordination; levels below 10% may cause loss of consciousness, and levels below 6% will occur die. When a person is exposed to low levels of oxygen without warning, the consequences can be serious because often only a slight change in consciousness is experienced.
The first symptoms of hypoxia include increased respiratory volume, shortness of breath, increased cardiac output, and fatigue; other symptoms may include headaches, difficulty concentrating, hyperarousal, decreased coordination, visual disturbances, and nausea. Severe hypoxia can lead to confusion, convulsions and eventually death.
If the reduction in exposure to ambient oxygen is terminated early, the effects are usually reversible; failure to do so can result in permanent central nervous system damage or death.
Oxygen occupies such an important position in our life, which is why toxic gas detectors and indoor air quality detectors are equipped with professional oxygen sensors to detect oxygen.
