Because carbon dioxide is a fairly common atmospheric gas, it is produced by many natural and manmade sources. Atmospheric carbon dioxide arises from a combination of natural and manmade sources.
Nature tends to balance-out natural sources of carbon dioxide through the carbon cycle and carbon sinks, but human sources of outdoor carbon dioxide disrupted this delicate balance. Common anthropogenic sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide include:. While all sources of CO2 ultimately end up in the atmosphere or ocean, there are specific emissions that impact us inside buildings.
Here are a few sources we should keep in mind. Scientists used to believe that carbon dioxide was harmless at common indoor levels, but new findings indicate that this is not the case. The main way indoor carbon dioxide affects our health is through our brains.
As carbon dioxide levels in a room increase, the gas starts crowding out the oxygen. Carbon dioxide is considered a simple asphyxiant because it reduces the amount of oxygen we absorb from each breath.
If indoor carbon dioxide levels get too high around 40, ppm , your life may be in danger. At levels we are more likely to experience ppm , the health effects are more subtle. Around ppm, a very common indoor level, you will start to experience fatigue, sleepiness, and may struggle to concentrate. You may also find it uncomfortable to sleep, and the air will feel stuffy.
With prolonged exposure and increases in concentration, you may develop a headache and feel physically uncomfortable. Indoor carbon dioxide can also impact our decision-making and problem-solving skills. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory uncovered a connection between carbon dioxide concentrations and cognitive and working ability.
Throughout Earth's history, whenever the amount of CO 2 in the atmosphere has gone up, the temperature of Earth has also gone up. And when the temperature goes up, the CO 2 in the atmosphere goes up even more. This graph shows how temperature and carbon dioxide have increased and decreased together over the past , years. NASA's research satellites are studying how much carbon plants take out of the atmosphere and how carbon moves around the planet.
Check out the Climate Time Machine to see how CO 2 and temperature have changed together through history. Why Is Carbon Important? The Short Answer:. Carbon is in carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas that works to trap heat close to Earth. You are 18 percent carbon. Plants are 45 percent carbon. Carbon dioxide in, water and oxygen out. A greenhouse traps the Sun's energy inside and keeps the plants warm.
If not for the greenhouse effect, Earth would be an ice ball. So why are we hearing the nonsense that man is destroying the planet by using fossil fuels? Facebook Twitter Email. Carbon dioxide is essential for life. Many of the ventilation systems we use today recycle air to conserve energy, essentially moving the contaminated air around rather than cycling in new air.
This results in high CO 2 concentrations and poor indoor air quality. High levels are directly correlated to low productivity and high sick leave making this a crucial concern in offices, schools and home environments. Studies show that people have a much harder time learning, performing simple and complex tasks, and making decisions, as CO 2 levels rise.
Students in a classroom with CO 2 levels of ppm had much worse test scores than at ppm. CO 2 levels rise and fall regularly indoors. There are many factors that affect CO 2 levels including ventilation, amount of people, and length of time in an enclosed space.
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