Can the Na'vi breathe an Earthlike atmosphere?

[Niri Te]

With their ability to breathe the highly acidic (by Earth standards) atmosphere that is also laced with greater than 18% CO2, would the Na'vi need their own self contained breathing apparatus to be able to breathe where humans were not wearing exopacks?
Niri Te

[Eana Unil]

I'm no doctor or biology scientist or whatever, but referring to

Na’vi blood is red, utilizing an iron compound similar to hemoglobin to transport oxygen.
Source: Anatomy and Physiology | Pandorapedia: The Official Guide to Pandora | Own AVATAR on Blu-ray & DVD Now!

Na'vi need oxygen like we humans do in order to keep organs and muscles and stuff running properly.
So I'd say it is very likely that they might breathe our atmospheric composition of gas without being poisoned, hurt or whatever.
On the other hand... too much of oxygen might even damage human lungs and cause other kind of damage to the human body. So it might be possible that the Na'vi would get "hurt" by breathing here on Earth without something like an Exopack.

But that's just an assumption.

[Tsyal Makto]

IIRC there is roughly the same amount of oxygen in the Pandoran atmosphere as there is on Earth, so no real risk of oxygen poisoning. The exopacks were more for the excess CO2 and sulfuric acid in the Pandoran air. So unless the Na'vi somehow need these to live, they sound be fine on Earth. The only problem is that they might not be as athletic or physically capable, because our atmosphere is about 20% thinner and they might get mild hypoxia issues.

[txen]

As we know Pandoran air causes immediate problems for humans. It's that 18% CO2 that we really can't deal with. We also can't deal with some of the minor constituents, but I think that the CO2 is the largest and most immediate problem. Likewise the lack of that CO2 would likely cause problems for organisms adapted to Pandoran air.

There is likely one big significant difference. The lack of CO2 would most likely be a much slower problem. A breath or two of the Pandoran mix puts a human down. The lack of CO2 isn't going to be at the same level. While there could be a whole host of issues associated with the lack of CO2, the largest would likely be blood pH changes. Dissolved CO2 is a weak acid and the lack of that acid would drive the pH up.

[Lahea Atxkxeftu]

I agree with Txen, an osmotic shock could kill easily...

Also, do you remember the scene when Jake was driving his avatar for the first time? The room was filled with pandoran air, instead of the earth one. If the na'vi would be able to breathe earth air, there would be no need to use pandoran air. Then the scientists wouldn't have to wear exopacks.

[Niri Te]

The reason that I was asking about a Na'vi's ability to handle an Earthly atmospheric chemistry, is because my real life wife, Tee, (Ateyo Te Syaksyuk), is doing a story that starts out eight years after the RDA vrrtep have been sent packing. In it, a unusually short statured (five feet tall), Na'vi and a Samoan former RDA, rebel pilot who is FIERCELY loyal to the Na'vi, their way of life, and Eywa, meet, and become very good friends, and in the future chapters, romantically involved.
After time, just before the two of them become too close, the pilot makes a joke concerning her need to wear a mask, and therefore not be able to kiss the Na'vi, saying that "it is like the storyline in an ancient Earth Movie called Ladyhawke where the two lovers can never be together".
IF, and this is a BIG "if", the Na'vi can tolerate an Earthlike atmosphere with their blood chemistry not going off the charts, then the short Na'vi or far better yet, a Science Tech. from Grace's old crew, could explain the fact to the pilot, and the small Na'vi.
Niri Te

[Moco Loco]

Haha, sounds cute. I've heard some speculation before about na'vi possibly being able to breathe in an Earth atmosphere, but Lahea brings up a good point about the room with the scientists. However, I'm sure if they could breathe the air we do, they'd at least be a little weaker from it, and that scene in the medical room was meant to evaluate how well the avatars were functioning. If the air quality could have any effect on that (and it probably would), it would be better to have Pandoran air in the room.

[Ateyo leSyaksyuk]

This is my heartsick poem.with Translation below:
YAYO TSUN YAWNE PAYOANG
Yayo tsun yawne payoang
Slä tsepenge peyfo si kelku?
Tawtute tsun yawne Na'vi
Slä peyfu si ya tsopil?
Oeyäa sraw twe'lan!
Peyfu tsun ting sapom,
Fu si tsaheyl?
Nemrey~Nìfayo~Nìo!?
Yawne run f'yao, ma kalin
Yawne run f'yao

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A bird can love a fish
But where would they make their home?
A Tawtute can love a Na'vi
But how would they breathe?
Or commit tsaheylu?
My aching heart!
How can we share a kiss?
In a life-dependent manner~In an enjoyable manner!?
Love will find a way, my sweet.
Love will find a way!

[Human No More]

In an Earth composition atmosphere, it would be yes, as the O2 concentration is almost the same, while xenon has no biological function due to its properties; while Earth as seen in Avatar would be unlikely.
CO2 does have a function in regulating metabolic rate, although due to the concentration difference, this may be unique to Earth animals, and even if not, would not have any short-term effects (much as humans can survive in 4% for a week or more).

There's a very good reason for wearing exopacks when Jake is first linking - he's going outside anyway, so it's easier to have it depressurised than use the airlock (indeed, . A normal gas mixture would also be less of a shock on first 'awakening' to the avatar. Of course, Jake might have just depressurised the airlock by pushing it open anyway

[ScottWashburn]

Humans can live in atmospheres with very different compositions as long as there is enough oxygen and not too much of things humans find poisonous. For quite some time NASA was using a pure oxygen atmosphere for its astronauts. And deep sea expeditions substitute helium for the usual nitrogen. So the Na'vi could probably tolerate a human atmosphere for quite some time. Long-term exposure might cause some problems.

[Niri Te]

That's cool, I'm curious about the absence of the Hydrogen sulfate in the Earthlike atmosphere.Would the increased alkalinity of the Earthlike atmosphere have a bac effect on them? Just for grins, I'm wondering if the much higher CO2 content is a partial cause for the carbon fifer in their bones?
Niri Te

[Human No More]

The CO2 wouldn't affect their bones afaik (no real way for that to happen), while the alkalinity might perhaps be irritating, but not something that would prevent their breathing the atmosphere, much like excess humidity.

[Ateyo leSyaksyuk]

It's the effect of sulfuric acid that has me concerned. Would Irrta clothing, plastics, and metals corrode and disintegrate more easily on Pandora. Would Na'vi skin burn your lips if you tried to kiss?

[Ateyo leSyaksyuk]

...and if a tsatute could be able to sneak a bit of Na'vi food into the mask, would it cause blisters on the tongue and throat? Could sawtute be inoculated on the voyage to build up resistance to the sulphuric acid? What percentage is in Pandora's atmosphere?
Would our eyes be damaged as well?

[Clarke]

Originally Posted by Ateyo leSyaksyuk

...and if a tsatute could be able to sneak a bit of Na'vi food into the mask, would it cause blisters on the tongue and throat? Could sawtute be inoculated on the voyage to build up resistance to the sulphuric acid? What percentage is in Pandora's atmosphere?
Would our eyes be damaged as well?

IIRC, one source says Pandora's atmosphere is something along the lines of 0.1% sulphuric acid hydrogen sulphide. The dissolution of sulfuric acid into water is exothermic, and to a certain extent self-perpetuating. "Water" includes a lot of exterior surfaces, such as your eyes, interior of your nose, and lungs. As far as I can tell, Quaritch is dead as soon as he steps out of the airlock, no saving throw, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.