Toxicity of Carbon Dioxide Gas Exposure, CO₂ Poisoning Symptoms, Carbon Dioxide Exposure Limits

CARBON DIOXIDE - CO2
CO₂ HEALTH EFFECTS - separate article
CO₂ EXPOSURE LIMITS - separate article
TYPICAL CO₂ LEVELS - separate article
Questions & Answers about Carbon Dioxide CO₂ gas levels indoors, CO₂outside, CO₂testing, CO₂poisoning symptoms, & CO₂ exposure limits and toxicity for humans
References

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Carbon Dioxide CO₂ Exposure Limits & Toxicity to humans: this document discusses normal and abnormal CO₂ gas levels, the toxicity and exposure limits for exposure to carbon dioxide gas (CO₂). We discuss Carbon Dioxide gas levels in outdoor air, in buildings, typical CO₂ levels and conditions under which levels are unsafe. We discuss the symptoms of carbon dioxide poisoning, describe different types of risks where high levels of CO₂ may be present, and present data about the effects of CO₂ exposure. Seek prompt advice from your doctor or health/safety experts if you have any reason to be concerned about exposure to toxic gases. Links on this page also direct the reader to carbon monoxide gas information in a separate document. We give references and explanation regarding toxicity of Carbon Dioxide.

Basic Information about Concentrations of CO₂ in Air

1,000,000 ppm of a gas = 100 % concentration of the gas, and 10,000 ppm of a gas in air = a 1% concentration.
At 1% concentration of carbon dioxide CO₂ (10,000 parts per million or ppm) and under continuous exposure at that level, such as in an auditorium filled with occupants and poor fresh air ventilation, some occupants are likely to feel drowsy.
The concentration of carbon dioxide must be over about 2% (20,000 ppm) before most people are aware of its presence unless the odor of an associated material (auto exhaust or fermenting yeast, for instance) is present at lower concentrations.
Above 2%, carbon dioxide may cause a feeling of heaviness in the chest and/or more frequent and deeper respirations.
If exposure continues at that level for several hours, minimal "acidosis" (an acid condition of the blood) may occur but more frequently is absent.
Breathing rate doubles at 3% CO₂ and is four times the normal rate at 5% CO₂.
Toxic levels of carbon dioxide: at levels above 5%, concentration CO₂ is directly toxic. [At lower levels we may be seeing effects of a reduction in the relative amount of oxygen rather than direct toxicity of CO₂.]

Symptoms of high or prolonged exposure to carbon dioxide include headache, increased heart rate, dizziness, fatigue, rapid breathing, visual and hearing dysfunctions. Exposure to higher levels may cause unconsciousness or death within minutes of exposure.

What are the Typical CO₂ Carbon Dioxide Levels Foun in Outdoor Air?

The photo (left) shows a Drager colorimetric gas detection tube used to test the CO₂ levels in air. In an indoor air test (in our laboratory) the detector found that the CO₂ level was about 600ppm which is typical of indoor air and is considered an acceptable and safe level.

While authorities indicate that CO₂ is present in outdoor air at 0.035% [12], our own measurements [DF] indicate that at a given locality the actual CO₂ level varies according to local conditions including temporal factors such as nearby fossil-fuel engines such as automobiles & buses.

In our measurements outdoors the typical carbon dioxide CO₂ level in air typically varies between 300 ppm to 400 ppm. 400 ppm is a 0.04% concentration of a gas in air - slightly higher than the "official" figure.

Comparing Outdoor CO₂ Levels with Indoor CO₂ in Buildings

When studying carbon dioxide levels inside of a building we therefore start with an outdoor baseline measurement, or several, obtained at varying distances from the structure. A comparison of the actual outdoor CO₂ level with even a relatively low level of indoor CO₂ (600 ppm and higher) may indicate a lack of adequate fresh air entering a building.

Carbon dioxide gas level measurements may be used in a study of indoor air quality even when the absolute levels of CO₂ itself are not harmful. But as we explain below, at higher levels CO₂ itself can affect building occupants and can even become dangerous or fatal.

Distinguishing between high carbon dioxide levels CO₂ and low oxygen levels O₂ in air

What may be unclear in some cases is whether the sub-acute (sub-toxic) effects at modestly-elevated levels of CO₂ in air stem from more from exposure to higher levels of carbon dioxide or whether they are due to reduced levels of oxygen. In an enclosed space such as a tight home or an enclosed basement or work space, increasing the level of CO₂ is likely to simultaneously reduce the proportion of Oxygen (O₂) in that same breathing air.

Some experts opine that complaints that seem to be associated with high CO₂ problem in many if not most circumstances are likely to be actually due to the corresponding reduction in available oxygen in air rather than high toxicity levels of CO₂ in the air. As carbon dioxide levels climb above a few percent the relative proportions of gases making up that air change: the concentration of oxygen in the air inhaled is reduced as the amount of CO₂ is increased.

However, the TOXIC effects of elevated levels of CO₂ are serious at levels when the oxygen reduction effects are only minor. [3]

CO₂ POISONING SYMPTOMS - Carbon Dioxide poisoning symptoms

IF YOU SUSPECT ANY BUILDING GAS-RELATED POISONING GO INTO FRESH AIR IMMEDIATELY and get others out of the building, then call your fire department or emergency services for help.

Here we discuss Carbon Dioxide gas levels in outdoor air, in buildings, typical CO₂ levels and conditions under which levels are unsafe. We discuss the symptoms of carbon dioxide poisoning, describe different types of risks where high levels of CO₂ may be present, and present data about the effects of CO₂ exposure. Seek prompt advice from your doctor or health/safety experts if you have any reason to be concerned about exposure to toxic gases. Links on this page also direct the reader to carbon monoxide gas information in a separate document.

- Daniel Friedman, with special thanks to Per Levéen, Telia Mobile, Sweden [1], Dr. Roy Jensen, (Canada) [2]. and Stephen Fisher, B.Sc., Sales Director, K.D.Fisher & Company, Pty., Ltd., Australia, [3] for technical editing & comments.

Example of Fatal Levels of CO₂ Carbon Dioxide in a Building

Per Levéen has thoughtfully provided the detailed analysis comparing the hazards of elevated carbon dioxide in a building with the accompanying reduction of oxygen (O₂ ) in the same space if the percentage of CO₂ is increased from a leak from a CO₂ gas cylinder. [1] The data following has been modified by Stephen Fisher, B.Sc, Dip. Ed., Sales Director of K.D.Fisher & Co., Pty. Ltd.[3]

FACT: 100 liters of air contains:

20.9 liters of oxygen (20.9%)
0.04 liters of CO₂ (0.04%)

Preliminary Assumptions: If the 100 litres is contained in a balloon like membrane, then 1.4 litres of gas can be added, at the same pressure. If we add 1.4 litres of CO₂ to this mixture, we will get 101.4 litres of air which has an elevated CO₂ content, and a reduced oxygen content, see the calculation immediately below:

Carbon Dioxide: (1.4 + 0.04) / 101.4 = 0.014 = 1.42 % CO₂ by bolume in air

This is is an increase in CO₂ percentage of 35.5 times above the “normal level” of 0.04% CO₂ by volume in air. 1.42% CO₂ can also be expressed as 14,000ppm (parts per million) CO₂.

Oxygen: 20.9 / 101.4 = 0.206 = 20.6 % oxygen.

This is a reduction in the oxygen percentage of 0.3% by volume in air, below the “normal” 20.9% Oxygen by volume in air.

This change in the mix of gases in air when the level of CO₂ increased results in a decrease with 1.4% in the oxygen level (and not 6.7% as was stated at Example of Reduced Oxygen Level in a Building)

However, KC Baczewski PE writes that the above calculation should be

((1.4/100)*20.9) = 0.29 %. i.e. a reduction in the “normal” oxygen level of 0.29%

You displace O2 and N2 for a final composition of:

N₂ (Nitrogen) = (79.1/100)*(100-1.4) = 77.99%
O₂ (Oxygen) = (20.9/100)*(100-1.4) = 20.61%
Ar (Argon) = 1%
CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide) = 1.4%

Total = 100.00%.

Stephen Fisher agrees with this calculation method, which would involve extracting 1.4 litres of air, prior to the addition of the 1.4 litres of CO₂ to the remaining 98.6 litres, which restores the total volume to 100 litres. This calculation has the advantage of providing a standard 100 litres of “air”, and consequently the number of litres of each component corresponds to the % by volume of each component gas of the mixture.[3]

Case Report Example of Fatal Levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) in a Building

This is important because we recently had an accident with CO₂ in Sweden killing two persons.

According to the newspapers CO₂ is nontoxic and it is the decreased oxygen levels that kills. THIS CONCEPT IS WRONG.

Using the calculation equation above one can quickly conclude that adding 31 litres of CO₂ to a 100 litre enclosed space would result in a 23.7% CO₂ by volume in air, which would be almost instantly fatal, and 16% oxygen by volume in air, (equivalent to breathing at 2800 meters above sea level, which is dangerous, because it can lead to poor decision making, but not fatal).

It is the toxic properties of CO₂ that is fatal, not the drop in oxygen.

In conclusion, in the event of a CO₂ Cylinder leak, it is the toxic properties of CO₂ that is fatal, long before oxygen levels have been reduced to fatally low levels.

According to the calculation shown below at Example of Reduced Oxygen Level in a Building, a level of 1.4% CO₂ cause a drop of oxygen from 20.9% to 19.5%. As the arithmetic above shows, This calculation is misleading. Saying that adding 1.4% CO₂ causes oxygen to drop to 20.9 - 1.4 = 19.5% is like saying that adding 20.9% CO₂ would cause oxygen to drop to 20.9 - 20.9 = 0% That is of course not true. The correct and more precise calculation is provided above this paragraph.

Example of a Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) reaching 5% of the room air.

Using either of the above calculation methods, the introduction of 5% CO₂ to the room's air volume will reduce each of the components of normal air to 95% of their original proportion.

	Standard Air Percentage	After Addition of 5% CO₂
Nitrogen (N₂)	78.0%	74.1%
Oxygen (O₂)	20.9%	19.85%
Argon (Ar)	1.0%	0.95%
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)	0.04%	5.04%

A 5% level of CCO₂ is directly toxic, yet as can be seen, the Oxygen level is at 19.85%, whereas the standard Australian 1st alarm level is set at 19.5%, so an oxygen sensor would not reach an alert level, despite serious CO₂ levels being reached.

Example of Reduced Oxygen Level in a Building

According to Example of Fatal levels of CO₂ Carbon Dioxide in a Building (above), the math of the following example is not quite correct. We have kept Dr. Jensen's comments (below) but they should be read together with the detailed example and calculation provided above by Per Levéen.

More carbon dioxide may mean less oxygen: Let's say, sake of simplicity, that we're converting oxygen to carbon dioxide in an enclosed space. Then when the CO₂ level has increased from its normal amount in air (about 0.03%) up to a higher concentration in air of 1.4% CO₂ the concentration of oxygen in air will have decreased from 20.9 to 19.5%. Reducing the oxygen concentration from 20.9% down to 19.5% is equal to a 6.7% reduction in the oxygen level. -- Thanks to thanks to Dr. Roy Jensen for assistance with these details.

What are the effects on humans (and other animals) of reduction of the oxygen levels in air? At sea level, breathing air in which the O₂ level has fallen to 16% percent is equivalent to being at the top of a 9,200-foot mountain - close to the level at which many people will experience shortness of breath while walking. 12% Oxygen in air at sea level corresponds to breathing normal air at an elevation of about 17,400 feet.

Document notes:

Original content, since extensively edited and expanded by several experts, began in 1985 with a literature search & search on Compuserve's Safety Forum by Dan Friedman. This is background information, obtained from expert sources. This text may assist readers in understanding these topics. However information presented here is not authoritative and may be incomplete.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the toxicity of CO2 Carbon Dioxide Gas at various percentage concentrations or exposure levels

Question: progression of CO2 in the body at high levels

progression of high Carbon Dioxide in your body when it is 2% over the normal? / at what level do you do to STOP the the progression when it is 2% - E. Avery 7/23/2011

Reply:

unclear;

Question: where to place equipment to measure CO2 from a generator?

what is the distance i can plce the equipment in other to measure accurate reading of c02 emissions from a generator. - Afolabi 12/19/2011

Reply:

Afolabi

I'm sorry but I can't quite see how to answer your question. A "generator" ??

The sensitivity and design-operating range of different types of gas detection equipment vary widely.

For example a ceiling mounted home carbon monoxide detector is intended to be placed at a variety of locations in a home, some many rooms away from the most likely CO source. But other test equipment may require distances ranging from centimeters to many meters. Our TIF 8800, for example, has a sensitivity adjustment. So without consulting the equipment instructions, there is no right answer to your question. And you scare us - let's hope no one's safety is relying on your approach.

Question: What is the math around PELS?

This article is interesting. I think I understand the concept but I have an application that use an analyzer.
To calibrate this instrument, I need to use an 8% SO2 compress gas cylinder (cylinder capacity 5m3). This is located in a sealed 10x10x10 room, so my room is 1000m3 and unventilated.
Worst case scenario, the cylinder empties in this room. Is this an accute risk knowing that 3000 ppm is the LC50 (1/2hour) limit and the bottle contains 80000ppm? I have a bit of difficulties to put some math around this. Could you please explain?

I think 8% concentration x 5m3 cylinder = 0.4m3 of SO2 release in the room.
The gas will occupy 0.4m3/1000m3 = 0.04% of the room volume which is 400ppm.
400ppm < LC50 3000ppm = Low Risk?

- Syl 4/4/2-12

Reply:

Syl, your question was a bit unclear and makes me worry that you are messing with gases without proper education or preparation. You are asking about Sulphur dioxide (SO2) in an article about Carbon dioxide (CO2) - in any event, if you are asking about recommended exposure limits for Sulphur dioxide SO2,

depending on the standard, SO2 PELs range among 0.25 ppm, 2 ppm, or 5 ppm.

please see details at

GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS, TOXIC where below that title you'll see a link for Sulfur Dioxide Gas

those article links are at page top

Reader followup:

Dan, I can assure you that nobody will be put in danger. Proper assessment will be done by qualified people for installation certification. Let me reformulate my question. I am interested to know how we determine if an area could be potentially dangerous or not. I mentioned SO2 but we can do it with CO2 if you like. The math behind is what I am looking for. Let's say for instance that a 5m3 gas cylinder containing 2000 ppm of CO2 is totally released in a 1000m3 closed room. What would be the indication of a gas detector located in the room, assuming the gas occupy the whole area due to an internal air movement (I understand that some area can have a higher concentration than other depending of the gas properties). I don’t think that a meter would read 1000ppm of CO2 because it is diluted in the air. What would be the reading in the middle of the room?

Question: are there carbon dioxide hazards in the Space Station?

Why the health problems in space station reported by NASA long ago---at 500 ppm CO2? - Ron Schmoller 8/5/2012

Reply:

Ron, if you can give us a citation, article, document source I'd be glad to take a look. A Google Scholar search for "Carbon dioxide hazards in the space station" didn't return a single article that addressed your question.

Question: question about CO Carbon Monoxide ... let's not confuse CO with CO2

can a person whose had serious exposure to carbon monoxide still be experiencing some symptons such as memory lost and irrasionality 2-3 years after their exposure? - (Aug 11, 2012) dubose_gloria@yahoo.com

Reply:

Dubose,

Your question is posted on a carbon DIOXIDE page - please take a look at the Carbon MONOXIDE article (as that's what you're asking about) over at
CARBON MONOXIDE - CO (article links at page top)
for more details.

In general, your question is important enough that you should take it to your physician or to a physician who specializes in environmental medicine or gas exposure effects.

You don't define serious: serious to me could be a short term exposure to very high level of a gas, or a long term exposure to a lower level, perhaps even chronic exposure to a low level of a gas. The potential effects of gas exposure thus vary by type of exposure as well, of course, as by the gas itself and by individual susceptability.

With those general remarks, and the "serious" exposure not described, we can only engage in guessing and arm-waving.

Usually people recover fine from short term exposure to CO; chronic exposure, or prolonged exposure to a gas that basically is depriving a person of sufficient oxygen, could potentially cause more lasting problems. But if you are saying that the problems did not manifest themselves until two or three years later, I'd expect your doctor to be also considering some other, more immediate conditions.

Question: will people in a car suffocate from CO2

Wonder if two people staying in a sedan car (sealed windows, no AC) will be suffocated of C02 in 30 minutes? - Atoi 9/10/2012

Reply:

Atoi I think you are confusing CO (carbon monoxide) with CO2 (carbon dioxide) - or perhaps you are postulating that the automobile is airtight and that people are going to exhaust the available oxygen or suffer from high CO2 levels. In our experience, vehicles are not air tight, and the hazards arise from carbon monoxide from an idling engine or an exhaust leak, though I would agree that people breathing in an enclosed space will indeed push the CO2 numbers up.

Take a look at TYPICAL CO₂ LEVELS - separate article for some examples of indoor or enclosed space carbon dioxide levels.

Question:

What is the mechanism of action in cases of carbon dioxide poisoning, assuming that the organism is provided adequate oxygen, that is, it does not suffocate? - H Durden 10/8/2012

Reply:

The question you pose, along with both high CO2 effects and reduced oxygen efffects, is discussed in the article above.

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

[1] Per Levéen, email comments 23 May 2009 . Mr. Levéen is with Telia, the leading mobile telephone operator in Sverige (Sweden). By telephone Telia (not Mr. Levéen) can be reached at 90 200 or From abroad at +46-771-99 02 00
[2] Dr. Roy Jensen, Department of Chemistry, Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton, AB for technical review and critique 8/23/07. Dr. Jensen notes that if we increase the CO₂ level in air in an enclosed space from its normal level of about 0.03% (we counted it as starting at 0) to a level of 1.4%, we obtain a corresponding decrease in the oxygen level from its normal level (at sea level) of about 20.9% down to 19.5%, for a 6.7% reduction in the amount of oxygen available. The amount of oxygen lost is 6.7 % (1.4/20.9 * 100 %). Our earlier version of this document was incorrect in this calculation.
[3] Stephen Fisher, Australian and New Zealand Sales Director, K.D.Fisher & Company, Pty., Ltd. 18 Benjamin Street, St. Mary's, Adelaide, South Australia, 5042, Australia.
Ph: (08) 8277-3288 (Int): +61-8-8277-3288 Fax: (08) 8276-4024 (Int): +61-8-8276-4024 E-mail: stevef@kdfisher.com.au [by email, Feb 2012] Quoting from the company's website

KD Fisher & Co. Pty. Ltd., Safety and Welfare: OHS & W training facilities located on premises; Gas detection monitoring & consultation; Safety & Security products; Electric components, Power & switchgear products, Electrical/Electronic service & engineering

Mr. Fisher adds "Our company is family owned, and employs 30 personnel, and has been specifying, and designing gas detection systems, using "bought in" detectors from overseas manufacturers, and developing sampling systems to allow the most proficient system for many applications, including jet fuel leakage detection systems for military aircraft hangars, and tanker parking shelters, for the Australian Dept. of Defence. "
[3-a] "Dangers of Carbon Dioxide, Health Effects of Carbon Dioxide Gas", K.D. Fisher & Co. Pty, Ltd., 18 Benjamn St., St. Marys, Adelaide, South Australia 5042, website: www.kdfisher.com.au, Tel: 08-8277-3288. Offices in Sydney & Melbourne.
This document consists of selected reproductions from the CCOHS (Canada's National Occupational Health & Safety Resource) with minor Australian applications & modifications, and cites the InspectAPedia carbon dioxide gas hazards article found above on this page.
[4] GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS, TOXICToxic Gas Exposure Hazards and Test Protocols including links to our toxic gas exposure screening and gas testing protocols.
[5] "Table Z-1 Limits for Air Contaminants, 1910.1000 Table Z-1" OSHA standard for air contaminant limits (http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9992) - includes for CO₂, Carbon dioxide.........| CAS No. 124-38-9 | 5000 ppm | 9000 mg/m3 limits for carbon dioxide as an air contaminant.
Health Effects of Carbon Dioxide - see "National Advisory Committee for Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) for Hazardous Substances; Proposed AEGL Values, Federal Register Document", http://www.epa.gov/EPA-TOX/2002/February/Day-15/t3774.htm note that these are proposed guidelines
[6] Klemens C. Baczewski PE, email correspondence, 4/29/2009 discussed correct CO₂ calculations.
[7] Taylor, Lewis G. and G. Oscar Kreutziger, The Gaseous Environment of the Chick Embryo in Relation to Its Development and Hatchability, 1968 (printout does not include the Journal)
[8] Holloway and Heath, 1984 Ventilatory Changes in the Golden Hamster..., Laboratory Rat...., Comp. Biochem. Physiol., Vol. 77A, No 2, pp. 267-273
[9] Bruggeman et al. 2007 Acid-base balance in chicken embryois...incubated under high CO₂ concentrations... Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology 159:147-154
[10] De Smit et al, 2006 Emryonic developmental plasticity of the chick: Increased CO₂ ... Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 145: 166-175
[11] Bar-Ilan, Amir and Jacob Marder, Adaptations to Hypercapnic conditions in the Nutria..., Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Vol 75A, No 4, pp 603-608, 1983
[12] "Health Effects of Carbon Dioxide Gas", CCOHS, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, web search 02/15/2012, original source: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/carbon_dioxide/health_cd.html
CCSP, 2008: Analyses of the effects of global change on human health and welfare and human systems. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. [Gamble, J.L. (ed.), K.L. Ebi, F.G. Sussman, T.J. Wilbanks, (Authors)]. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA. Web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://nepis.epa.gov/
Health Effects of Carbon Dioxide - see "National Advisory Committee for Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) for Hazardous Substances; Proposed AEGL Values, Federal Register Document", http://www.epa.gov/EPA-TOX/2002/February/Day-15/t3774.htm note that these are proposed guidelines
Carbon Dioxide CO₂: Geologic Sequestration Health Effects: "Vulnerability Evaluation Framework
for Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide", US EPA, EPA430-R-08-009, July 2008, web search August 2010,original source: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads/VEF-Technical_Document_072408.pdf
Carbon Dioxide CO₂: Geologic Sequestration, U.S EPA, web search 08/28/2010, original source:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/CO2_gs_tech.html
- GTSP, 2006: Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geologic Storage: A Core Element of a A Global
  Energy Technology Strategy to Address Climate Change (PDF, 37 pp., 6.05 MB, About PDF).
  April 2006, JJ Dooley et al. Global Energy Technology Strategy Program (GSTP)
- IPCC, 2005: Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage, Special Report of the
  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Metz, Bert, Davidson, Ogunlade,
  de Coninck, Heleen, Loos, Manuela, and Meyer, Leo (Eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, The
  Edinburgh Building Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 2RU England
Fluorine, Its Compounds, and Air Pollution,: a Bibliography with Abstracts, US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, December 1976. Web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://nepis.epa.gov.
NOTE: because the EPA's original source of this document in PDF format is damaged we have created a text image file, converted to a new PDF for readability.
Formaldehyde: US EPA. UFFI (Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation) was previously considered a hazard (formaldehyde outgassing). Subsequent research virtually closed concern regarding this material; however formaldehyde appears to remain a health concern for sensitive individuals.
Greenhouse Gas Overview: Carbon Dioxide: U.S. EPA, web search 08/28/2010, original source:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/CO₂.html
Nitrogen Oxides: Air Quality Criteria for Oxides of Nitrogen, Vol III of III, US EPA, EPA600/8-91/049cF, August 1993, web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://nepis.epa.gov [Large PDF 25MB]
Key chapters in this document evaluate the latest scientific data on (a) health effects of NOx measured ill laboratory animals and exposed human populatIOns and (b) effects of NOx on agricultural crops, forests, and ecosystems, as well as (c) NOx effects on visibility and nonbiological materials. Other chapters describe the nature, sources, distribution, measurement, and concentratiOns of NOx m the environment These chapters were prepared and peer reviwed by experts from various state and Federal government offices, academia, and private industry for use by EPA to support decision makIng regarding potentIal risks to public health and the enVIronment Although the document IS not intended to be an exhaustIve literature reVIew, It IS intended to cover all the pertinent literature through early 1993
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Sampling for gases in air such as VOC's, MVOC's, toxic chemicals, and combustion products.
Unfortunately no single test or tool can detect all possible building contaminants. We use methods and equipment which can test for common contaminants. If the identity of a specific contaminant is known in advance we can also test for a very large number of specific contaminant gases in buildings.
We use gas sampling equipment provided by the two most reliable companies in the world, Draeger-Safety's detector-tubes and Drager accuro� bellows pump, the Gastec� cylinder pump and detector-tube system produced by Gastec or Sensidyne, and we also use Sensidyne's Gilian air pump. For broad screening for combustibles and a number of other toxic gases and for leak tracing we also use Amprobe's Tif8850. All of these instruments, their applications, and sensitivities (minimum detectable limits) for specific gases are described in our Gas Sampling Plan online document.
Sulfur dioxide & other Oxides: Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter and Sulfur Oxides, Vol. III, US EPA, Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Research Triangle Park NC 27711, Dec. 1982, EPA-600/8/2-029c. Web search 08/26/2010, original source: http://nepis.epa.gov [large PDF]
Radon Gas U.S. EPA Radon level maps, web search 2005, original source: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/zonemap/zmapp33.htm
"Table Z-1 Limits for Air Contaminants, 1910.1000 Table Z-1" OSHA standard for air contaminant limits (http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9992) - includes for CO₂, Carbon dioxide.........| CAS No. 124-38-9 | 5000 ppm | 9000 mg/m3 limits for carbon dioxide as an air contaminant.
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Basic Information about Concentrations of CO2 in Air

What are the Typical CO2 Carbon Dioxide Levels Foun in Outdoor Air?

Comparing Outdoor CO2 Levels with Indoor CO2 in Buildings

Distinguishing between high carbon dioxide levels CO2 and low oxygen levels O2 in air

CO2 POISONING SYMPTOMS - Carbon Dioxide poisoning symptoms

Example of Fatal Levels of CO2 Carbon Dioxide in a Building

Case Report Example of Fatal Levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in a Building

Example of a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) reaching 5% of the room air.

Example of Reduced Oxygen Level in a Building

Document notes:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the toxicity of CO2 Carbon Dioxide Gas at various percentage concentrations or exposure levels

Question: progression of CO2 in the body at high levels

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Question: where to place equipment to measure CO2 from a generator?

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Question: What is the math around PELS?

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Reader followup:

Question: are there carbon dioxide hazards in the Space Station?

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Question: question about CO Carbon Monoxide ... let's not confuse CO with CO2

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Question: will people in a car suffocate from CO2

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