Interactions of short chain aliphatic hydrocarbons with human blood and haemoglobin A solutions.

The solubilities of methane, propane, butane and propylene were measured in human whole blood, human plasma and defatted haemoglobin solutions at 37 degrees C. For these four hydrocarbons the solubility coefficient (alpha = ml of gas STPD dissolved in one mal of the solvent under a pressure of one atmosphere) is higher in plasma than in an isoosmolar aqueous solution and higher in whole blood than in plasma. This is due to the presence of proteins and particularly of haemoglobin as shown by the dependence of alpha upon the concentration of haemoglobin in the medium. O2 capacity of human blood is not altered in the presence of these hydrocarbons and its affinity for O2 is slightly decreased.