Final answer:
d. All of the above
Pure oxygen can cause fire, corrosion, and respiratory issues due to its support for combustion, corrosive potential, and harmful effects on lung tissue. It is critical to handle oxygen carefully and avoid environments with high levels of reactive gases like ozone to safeguard health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pure oxygen can cause a number of issues, such as heightened risk of fire, potential for corrosion, and various respiratory issues. Oxygen supports combustion, and in an environment with elevated oxygen levels, fires can ignite more easily and burn more fiercely. Therefore, it is necessary to keep away from oxygen hose and torch hoses to prevent accidental ignitions. Pure oxygen can also exacerbate corrosion in certain materials. Regarding health, breathing pure oxygen for prolonged periods can lead to oxygen toxicity, causing lung damage and other respiratory complications.
Specifically, substances like ozone can be particularly harmful to respiratory health. Ozone is highly reactive and at higher concentrations can oxidize and damage lung tissue. This can lead to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and chest pain (substernal soreness), as well as long-term effects like a permanent reduction in lung function and increased risk of asthma. Similarly, sulfur dioxide exposure has been linked to respiratory issues like coughing, wheezing, and throat irritation (pharyngitis).
These health hazards underscore the importance of using oxygen carefully and ensuring that environments with high levels of reactive gases like ozone are avoided to protect respiratory and overall health.