title: Effects of sulphur hexafluoride on psychomotor performance.
abstract: The narcotic influence of sulphur hexafluoride on mental and psychomotor performance has been studied in 9 subjects at normal atmospheric pressure. Control experiments were performed with air and with nitrous oxide. Psychomotor, perceptual and cognitive abilities were assessed using a computerized test battery. Subjects were exposed to air and six different normoxic gas mixtures: 13, 26, and 39% N2O, and 39, 59, and 79% SF6. Significant performance impairments were found with 13% N2O and gradual further impairment with 26, and 39% N2O. During exposure to 39, 59, and 79% SF6 over-all performance was impaired by 5, 10, and 18%, respectively. Impairment was significant with 59 and 79% SF6. The results indicate that the relative narcotic potency of SF6: N2O is about 1:4 in humans. It is concluded that a normoxic SF6-O2 mixture can be inhaled for lung function studies without any harmful effects and that the short-lasting narcotic effect, although detectable with a test battery, would not impair the ability of the subject to perform simple breathing procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ostlund
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sporrong
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Linnarsson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lind
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride