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Using Salivary Biomarkers for Stress Assessment in Offshore Saturation Diving: A Pilot Study
Roxane Monnoyer1, Jacky Lautridou1, Sanjoy Deb1,2
1Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Frontiers in Physiology
|December 17, 2021
Summary
Saliva biomarker analysis offers a practical method for assessing stress in saturation divers. This pilot study found key inflammatory markers increased during dives, returning to normal post-decompression.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Biomarker Research
- Hyperbaric Medicine
Background:
- Offshore saturation diving presents unique health monitoring challenges due to limited access and invasive procedure constraints.
- Traditional onboard laboratory capabilities on dive support vessels (DSV) are restricted, complicating real-time physiological assessments.
- Developing non-invasive, accessible methods for stress assessment in saturation divers is crucial for maintaining diver well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of using self-collected salivary biomarkers for environmental stress assessment in saturation divers.
- To analyze changes in specific salivary biomarkers during and after offshore saturation diving campaigns.
- To correlate salivary biomarker profiles with physiological stress responses in a hyperbaric environment.
Main Methods:
- Nine saturation divers were trained in the passive drool method for saliva collection.
- Saliva samples were collected at nine time points before, during, and after a commercial saturation diving campaign.
- Collected samples were decompressed, frozen onboard, and later analyzed for secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), C-reactive protein (CRP), TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, cortisol, and alpha-amylase.
Main Results:
- During the bottom phase of hyperbaric saturation, SIgA, CRP, TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-1β levels significantly increased.
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6), cortisol, and alpha-amylase levels remained unchanged throughout the saturation period.
- All measured salivary biomarkers returned to pre-dive levels upon decompression to surface pressure.
Conclusions:
- Salivary biomarker analysis using the passive drool method is a feasible approach for stress assessment in offshore saturation divers.
- Observed increases in inflammatory markers suggest a systemic inflammatory response during hyperbaric and hyperoxic saturation.
- The findings support the hypothesis of sympathetic nervous system activation related to systemic inflammation in saturation divers.
