Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 2/5/2011

Question
I know I asked this yesterday but Im having trouble receiving answers and so Id ask you to send the answer to my email address which is at the end of the question.

Hello, I would like to know what happens to the individual O2 molecules when a person dies - Do they just dissipate from the body or do they get used up and converted into other gases/broken down by the body. Where does the O2 GO ???   Im having a problem receiving my answers for now so could you please email me the answer at            Thankyou :)

Answer
I would assume that the oxygen would equilibrate with the outside air initially but over time the aerobic bacteria would start to break down the 02 inside the body. The 02 in the lungs would stay equilibrated with the outside air, only the 02 inside closed spaces (stomach, intestines, etc) would get broken down.


Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston