Originally Posted by
pinkcat
just out of interest would a very rapid decompression at 30,000ft be enough to make CO2 come out of solution in the blood, I know bottles of soda swell on normal descent.
Since the partial pressure of CO2 at 30,000 feet is less than the partial pressure of CO2 at sea level I don't think any CO2 will be released from the blood. My understanding of decompression sickness is that it's governed by Henry's law which states that at a fixed temperature the amount of gas dissolved in a liquid (i.e. blood) is directly proportional to the partial pressure of that gas. Since the partial pressure of CO2 is higher at sea level than at 30,000 feet you'd expect more CO2 to begin dissolving into your blood as you descend.
Also keep in mind your body is never at 30,000 feet. The cabin is pressurized to 8,000 feet.