AEMCA Practice Exam

What condition is caused by breathing in compressed nitrogen?

1. Nitrogen Narcosis

2. Barotrauma

3. Decompression Sickness

4. Hypercapnia

The correct answer is: Nitrogen Narcosis

Nitrogen narcosis occurs when a person breathes in nitrogen at high pressures, such as during deep diving. At depths beyond around 30 meters (100 feet), the increased partial pressure of nitrogen can create a narcotic effect on the central nervous system, leading to symptoms similar to intoxication. This state can impair judgment, coordination, and other cognitive functions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where critical decision-making is necessary, such as underwater. While barotrauma relates to injuries caused by pressure changes affecting air-filled cavities in the body, and decompression sickness involves nitrogen bubbles forming in tissues or bloodstream when ascending too quickly, these conditions do not directly arise from the immediate effects of breathing compressed nitrogen under pressure. Hypercapnia, which is an excess of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, is also unrelated as it is linked to inadequate ventilation, not the direct inhalation of nitrogen at high pressure. Thus, nitrogen narcosis specifically pertains to the effects of breathing nitrogen at increased pressures and is the correct response to the question.