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2
The diving medical detectives:
when diving medicine books
are completely wrong, Part V:
On pressure units
Abstract & Methods: the same, as per Parts I to IV of this series.
Part I, Ref. [1], DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.15199.79528
Part II, Ref. [2], DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.35722.39366
Part III, Ref. [3], DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28043.62245
Part IV, Ref. [4], DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.12077.97760
If you want to contribute s.th. to our list, we would be very happy if you send
an e-mail to our head of lab: director@smc-de.com
(That is: to be continued in 2023 with Part VI ☺)
3
The diving medical detectives:
when diving medicine books
are completely wrong, Part V:
On pressure units
Here, in Part V, we give only a short comment about pressure units and the
various conversion factors used in diving medicine books, as the majority of
these books are using imperial units like pounds per square inch (psi) or feet
of seawater (fsw), but for serious scientific publications or technical
documentation the SI system, the „International System of Units“ is the
preferred and used system.
These conversion factors are regularly not consistent over all these books as
they normally do not specify (water-)temperature nor the density. So they are
at times even contradicting andone thing for sure for a physician, i.e. a
physical layman: confusing!
For an easy and quick assessment with mental arithmetic, say for a ballpark
to check absolute pressures, partial pressures of oxygen and the like,
especially when required underwater, during real diving, SI is the system of
choice.
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Conclusion / Advice:
If possible, use the SI system.
If not, use the ballparks from
[62] on p. 12:
these are sufficient for all
practical purposes:
they will match the average
precision of all
depth gauges, dive computers
or oxygen analyzers.
For scientific accuracy needed in
meticulous calculations, say in a
decompression algorithm or for
adeep saturation dive, check for
the set of conversion factors you
picked the (water-)temperature and (water-)density they are defined for!
And then: Double Check!!!
if they fit your intended environment!
15
References (1):
We from the lab (Miri, Nurit & Yael) rely heavily on the
knowledge & experience of our boss:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Albi-Salm-2
As well we have our big library at hand:
http://www.divetable.eu/BOOKS/index.htm יבלא: הבר הדות!
ירימ ,לעיו תירונ
[15 e] US DIVING MANUAL_REV7_ChangeA-6.6.18
[62] "Diving & Subaquatic Medicine", Carl Edmonds, Lowry, Pennefather,
Walker, 4 th. Ed., Arnold, ISBN 0-340-80630-3,
[63] "Bennett and Elliott's Physiology and Medicine of Diving" Alf Brubakk,
Neuman et al., 5 th Ed. Saunders, ISBN 0-7020-2571-2
[75], Bove and Davis‘ Diving Medicine, 4th. Edition
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References (2):
[110] The Underwater Handbook: A Guide to Physiology and Performance for
the Engineer; Shilling, Werts, Schandelmaier; Plenum Press N.Y., 1976, ISBN
0-306-30843-6
[158] Shilling, C. W. Carlston, C.B. Mathias, R.A (1984) The Physician's
Guide to Diving Medicine, Plenum Press, N.Y., ISBN-13: 978-1-4612-9663-8
[248] Strauss, R.H. (ed.)(1976) Diving Medicine,
Grune & Stratton, Inc., N.Y., ISBN 0-8089-0699-2
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References (3):
„The diving medical detectives-series on ResearchGate:
when diving medicine books are completely wrong!”
Parts # 1 to 4:
[1] Salm, A. (09.09.2021) DOI: : 10.13140/RG.2.2.15199.79528
[2] Salm, A. (17.09.2021) DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.35722.39366
[3] Salm, A. (01.12.2021) DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28043.62245
[4] Salm, A. (06/2022) DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.12077.97760