Does the high concentration of carbon dioxide in the gas detector harm the human body?
Everyone is likely familiar with carbon dioxide. Every minute and every second, we are exposed to it. Carbon dioxide, a gas that the body exhales, also helps to control the respiratory system. But unlike many gases, carbon dioxide cannot be found in significant amounts in the air that humans breathe. When the amount of carbon dioxide in the air is too high, discomfort will also result in the human body.
This type of occurrence is not unusual; in fact, everyone has encountered it. As an example, working for an extended period of time in a closed office may cause drowsiness, and going to a basement with poor ventilation will make you feel "stuffy." You will eventually start to feel lightheaded, which is another sign of carbon dioxide poisoning. Fresh air has a carbon dioxide level of roughly 0.03%, therefore occupants won't suffer any harm.
The symptoms of suffocation will vary in severity depending on how many people are inside the room, how well the air is circulated, whether a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher is leaking inside the room, and how much carbon dioxide is produced during the combustion of gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and coal.
Excessive breathing will impact the lungs' ability to exchange gases, aggravating the hypoxia issue. Patients with carbon dioxide suffocation will quickly lose consciousness under such a vicious cycle. Therefore, it is important to always pay attention to the carbon dioxide content and take an oxygen bottle with you when necessary when exploring enclosed locations, especially underground spaces. The effects of CO2 on the human body are shown below in terms of percentages.
1. 2.5% have no symptoms after several hours;
2. 3.0% unconsciously increased breathing rate;
3. 4.0% had local irritation symptoms;
4. 6.0% increased breathing volume;
5. 8.0% had dyspnea;
6. 10.0% were unconscious and died soon after;
7. 20.0% paralyzed after a few seconds, and the heart stopped beating.
Generally, in places where the concentration of carbon dioxide is too high, a carbon dioxide alarm will be equipped. When the concentration reaches a danger to the human body, it will automatically warn in advance to remind people to be vigilant.
