How does the human body react to enriched air in terms of nitrogen absorption?

The correct understanding is that the body absorbs less nitrogen when diving with enriched air, which typically has a higher oxygen content and lower nitrogen content compared to regular air. Enriched air, commonly referred to as nitrox, typically consists of a mixture like 32% or 36% oxygen, with the remainder being nitrogen.

When a diver uses enriched air, the decrease in nitrogen level in the breathing gas leads to reduced nitrogen absorption in the body compared to breathing regular air. This is beneficial for divers since it allows for longer bottom times and shorter surface intervals without significantly increasing the risk of decompression sickness, which is linked to nitrogen loading.

The reduced nitrogen absorption occurs because as the percentage of oxygen increases in the breathing mixture, the percentage of nitrogen decreases. Thus, when divers breathe enriched air, they are inhaling less nitrogen overall, which directly correlates to less nitrogen being absorbed by the body’s tissues. This physiological effect is one of the key advantages of using enriched air for recreational diving, enhancing dive safety and experience.