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by frognumber
447 days ago
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This is not quite correct. 1) CO2 levels have risen from under 300PPM in 1860 to over 400PPM right now -- by around 150PPM -- with a rise of about 25PPM per decade for the past four decades. The difference in CO2 levels in my bedroom with windows open and closed is a couple hundred PPM (500-800ppm range in my bedroom, with windows open and closed, respectively). I can definitely feel a difference in performance if I don't let in fresh air. It's more than climate change (300ppm versus 150ppm range), but not big-O more, and climate change is on-track to get there in another few decades. Conference rooms might be over 1000ppm, but it still big-O similar. 2) CO2 levels are measured in parts-per-MILLION. That argument simply doesn't make sense. The atmosphere is 21% oxygen. Crowding out oxygen is simply not an issue. Critically, from personal experience, if I have some dry ice in a room, I generally don't suffer. People run into problems when CO2 levels reach a out 5000 ppm over many hours. Even the most dense conference rooms don't hit that. |
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1. Direct effects on brain physiology: When CO2 levels rise in the blood (hypercapnia), it causes vasodilation of cerebral blood vessels. While this initially increases blood flow, sustained elevation disrupts the brain's normal pH balance, affecting neural function.
2. Acid-base imbalance: Elevated CO2 in the blood forms carbonic acid, decreasing blood pH. This acidosis affects enzyme function, neurotransmitter activity, and neuronal excitability throughout the brain.
3. Oxygen displacement: While not typically reaching dangerous levels in standard indoor environments, higher CO2 concentrations can slightly reduce oxygen availability to brain tissues in enclosed spaces.
4. Inflammatory responses: Research suggests prolonged exposure to elevated CO2 may trigger low-grade neuroinflammatory responses, potentially impairing cognitive processes.
5. Disruption of neurotransmitter systems: CO2-induced acidosis appears to affect several neurotransmitter systems, particularly GABA and glutamate, which are critical for cognitive functions like attention, memory, and decision-making.
Studies have shown measurable cognitive effects at CO2 concentrations as low as 1,000 ppm, with more significant impairment at 2,500+ ppm - levels commonly found in poorly ventilated meeting rooms, classrooms, and offices.
As for indoor vs outdoor:
> Rising atmospheric CO2 levels from global warming don't pose the same cognitive risks as elevated indoor CO2. While indoor environments can reach 1,000-5,000+ ppm, causing measurable cognitive decline through mechanisms like acid-base imbalance and neurotransmitter disruption, global atmospheric CO2 is only about 420 ppm. Even with projected increases to 500-1,000 ppm by 2100 in worst-case scenarios, these levels remain below thresholds for significant cognitive impairment. Our bodies can also better adapt to gradual atmospheric changes compared to rapid indoor CO2 accumulation, making climate change impacts the primary concern rather than direct cognitive effects.