Olfactory properties of some gases in hyperbaric atmosphere

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Abstract
The first demonstration of olfactory perception, at hyperbaric atmosphere, for gases inodorous at normal atmosphere, was made by Laffort (1966, 1968). Nevertheless, two difficulties arose with this earlier experimentation. First, the pressure was limited to 5 absolute atmospheres (ATA) on account of the safety of the subjects. Secondly, the temperature was not maintained constant and it is well known that the olfactory perception depends on this parameter (Tucker, 1963; Grundvig et al., 1967; Laffort, 1969). The present experiment was carried out in a range of 2–23 ATA, at a constant temperature, using methane and krypton. The dose–response curve was obtained as a whole with methane and partially with krypton. This work shows the existence of olfactory sensitivity for these seemingly ‘inodorous’ gases. Moreover, planning a QSAR study (quantitative structure–activity relationships), it is possible to know the olfactory thresholds of small mol. wt compounds (the human olfactory thresholds of n-paraffin were known in a range of C2–C10 until now) (Van Gemert and Nettenbreijer, 1977).

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