WILLIAMSBURG-A professor at The College of William and Mary is studying the effects of oxygen deprivation on the human body.
Hypoxia has been in the news recently as the problem has plagued Air Force pilots flying the F-22. It's also an issue for ground troops on duty at high altitudes in mountainous countries like Afghanistan.
Ken Kambis has launched a four-year study on the effects of environmental extremes on human performance.
'It's flattering to even consider that some of the work I do might help our military personnel in situations where they may be exposed to hazardous environments like high altitudes,' he says.
The Acute Mountain Sickness project has people do vigorous exercise before being put in a special chamber that reduces oxygen levels experienced at 11,500 feet.
' Rapid deployment to high altitude can produce some very debilitating symptoms like splitting headaches, nausea, vision disturbances and inability to perform simple tasks,' he explains.
The study is being done in cooperation with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.
