If I understand correctly, hypoxic training (done by endurance athletes) works by forcing the body to adapt to low oxygen concentrations, i.e., improve oxygen metabolism. For this, athletes go to higher altitudes or use special machines (“hypoxicators”) that change the air they are breathing.
Could a similar effect be achieved simply by being in a (small enough) closed room for a long enough time, such that the oxygen concentration is as low as desired?
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Confined spaces with even just a few percent lower O2 than ambient air are a huge safety concern for construction and facility operations. Like people have died just turning wrenches in small rooms with poor ventilation after a surprisingly short time. Athletic hypoxic training is way safer and easier to do than what would be needed to train in a sealed room. As others have said, the co2 will kill you before you start running out of oxygen:
“The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommends an 8- hour TWA Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 5,000 ppm [.5%] and a Ceiling exposure limit (not to be exceeded) of 30,000 ppm [3%] for a 10-minute period. A value of 40,000 [4%] is considered immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH value).”
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