Why Monitor CO2?

We all breathe in oxygen and breathe out CO₂, which means the CO₂ level in an indoor space increases over time, depending how many people there are in the room and how well it is ventilated.

That means the CO₂ level in an indoor space gives an idea of how clean or dirty the air is. 

If the CO₂ level is too high, it means the air is dirty and the space needs more ventilation. 

The more dirty the air is, the greater the number of germs, such as coronaviruses, in each breath, so the more likely you are to become ill. This 2020 study from Taiwan showed a 97% reduction in the transmission of TB – transmitted by the airborne route in the same way as coronaviruses – by bringing CO2 levels below 1000ppm.

As well as increasing the chance of catching an infectious illness, a high CO₂ level makes you sleepy and affects your ability to do complex tasks, like driving a car, flying a plane or doing maths. Outside air has a CO2 concentration of around 420ppm. This study showed pilots’ performance significantly affected at levels of indoor air CO2 as low as 1500ppm. 

One of the things that most worries us here at CO2 Radical is the very high levels of CO₂ we are regularly seeing on school buses in traces sent in by customers. Levels of 8,000ppm or more seem common, which must have severe effects on both the children and the performance of the driver.