This volume investigates the physiological effects, clinical applications, and inherent safety risks associated with operating in hyperbaric oxygen environments. Editor G.S. Innes compiles technical papers from a 1968 symposium at University College, London, to establish a baseline for understanding the biological impact of increased atmospheric pressure on human subjects. The text synthesizes research from medical professionals and engineers to address the challenges of oxygen toxicity and decompression sickness in clinical and industrial settings.

Experts recognize this text as a foundational historical record of early hyperbaric research and safety protocols. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which reflects the specialized nature of the symposium's technical presentations.