Low Level Carbon Dioxide Indoors—A Pollution Indicator or a Pollutant? A Health-Based Perspective

With modern populations in developed countries spending approximately 90% of their time indoors, and with carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) concentrations inside being able to accumulate to much greater concentrations than outdoors, it is important to identify the health effects associated...

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Autores principales:	Scott D. Lowther, Sani Dimitroulopoulou, Kerry Foxall, Clive Shrubsole, Emily Cheek, Britta Gadeberg, Ovnair Sepai
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	CO<sub>2</sub> bio-effluents cognitive effects respiratory effects neurological and irritation of upper airway system physiological effects Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/4d04a71362f74cc7950a33923dc5722f
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:4d04a71362f74cc7950a33923dc5722f2021-11-25T17:31:10ZLow Level Carbon Dioxide Indoors—A Pollution Indicator or a Pollutant? A Health-Based Perspective10.3390/environments81101252076-3298https://doaj.org/article/4d04a71362f74cc7950a33923dc5722f2021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/8/11/125https://doaj.org/toc/2076-3298With modern populations in developed countries spending approximately 90% of their time indoors, and with carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) concentrations inside being able to accumulate to much greater concentrations than outdoors, it is important to identify the health effects associated with the exposure to low-level CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations (<5000 ppm) typically seen in indoor environments in buildings (non-industrial environments). Although other reviews have summarised the effects of CO<sub>2</sub> exposure on health, none have considered the individual study designs of investigations and factored that into the level of confidence with which CO<sub>2</sub> and health effects can be associated, nor commented on how the reported health effects of exposure correspond to existing guideline concentrations. This investigation aimed to (a) evaluate the reported health effects and physiological responses associated with exposure to less than 5000 parts per million (ppm) of CO<sub>2</sub> and (b) to assess the CO<sub>2</sub> guideline and limit concentrations in the context of (a). Of the 51 human investigations assessed, many did not account for confounding factors, the prior health of participants or cross-over effects. Although there is some evidence linking CO<sub>2</sub> exposures with health outcomes, such as reductions in cognitive performance or sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms, much of the evidence is conflicting. Therefore, given the shortcomings in study designs and conflicting results, it is difficult to say with confidence whether low-level CO<sub>2</sub> exposures indoors can be linked to health outcomes. To improve the epidemiological value of future investigations linking CO<sub>2</sub> with health, studies should aim to control or measure confounding variables, collect comprehensive accounts of participants’ prior health and avoid cross-over effects. Although it is difficult to link CO<sub>2</sub> itself with health effects at exposures less than 5000 ppm, the existing guideline concentrations (usually reported for 8 h, for schools and offices), which suggest that CO<sub>2</sub> levels <1000 ppm represent good indoor air quality and <1500 ppm are acceptable for the general population, appear consistent with the current research.Scott D. LowtherSani DimitroulopoulouKerry FoxallClive ShrubsoleEmily CheekBritta GadebergOvnair SepaiMDPI AGarticleCO<sub>2</sub>bio-effluentscognitive effectsrespiratory effectsneurological and irritation of upper airway systemphysiological effectsEnvironmental technology. Sanitary engineeringTD1-1066ENEnvironments, Vol 8, Iss 125, p 125 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	CO<sub>2</sub> bio-effluents cognitive effects respiratory effects neurological and irritation of upper airway system physiological effects Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066
spellingShingle	CO<sub>2</sub> bio-effluents cognitive effects respiratory effects neurological and irritation of upper airway system physiological effects Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 Scott D. Lowther Sani Dimitroulopoulou Kerry Foxall Clive Shrubsole Emily Cheek Britta Gadeberg Ovnair Sepai Low Level Carbon Dioxide Indoors—A Pollution Indicator or a Pollutant? A Health-Based Perspective
description	With modern populations in developed countries spending approximately 90% of their time indoors, and with carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) concentrations inside being able to accumulate to much greater concentrations than outdoors, it is important to identify the health effects associated with the exposure to low-level CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations (<5000 ppm) typically seen in indoor environments in buildings (non-industrial environments). Although other reviews have summarised the effects of CO<sub>2</sub> exposure on health, none have considered the individual study designs of investigations and factored that into the level of confidence with which CO<sub>2</sub> and health effects can be associated, nor commented on how the reported health effects of exposure correspond to existing guideline concentrations. This investigation aimed to (a) evaluate the reported health effects and physiological responses associated with exposure to less than 5000 parts per million (ppm) of CO<sub>2</sub> and (b) to assess the CO<sub>2</sub> guideline and limit concentrations in the context of (a). Of the 51 human investigations assessed, many did not account for confounding factors, the prior health of participants or cross-over effects. Although there is some evidence linking CO<sub>2</sub> exposures with health outcomes, such as reductions in cognitive performance or sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms, much of the evidence is conflicting. Therefore, given the shortcomings in study designs and conflicting results, it is difficult to say with confidence whether low-level CO<sub>2</sub> exposures indoors can be linked to health outcomes. To improve the epidemiological value of future investigations linking CO<sub>2</sub> with health, studies should aim to control or measure confounding variables, collect comprehensive accounts of participants’ prior health and avoid cross-over effects. Although it is difficult to link CO<sub>2</sub> itself with health effects at exposures less than 5000 ppm, the existing guideline concentrations (usually reported for 8 h, for schools and offices), which suggest that CO<sub>2</sub> levels <1000 ppm represent good indoor air quality and <1500 ppm are acceptable for the general population, appear consistent with the current research.
format	article
author	Scott D. Lowther Sani Dimitroulopoulou Kerry Foxall Clive Shrubsole Emily Cheek Britta Gadeberg Ovnair Sepai
author_facet	Scott D. Lowther Sani Dimitroulopoulou Kerry Foxall Clive Shrubsole Emily Cheek Britta Gadeberg Ovnair Sepai
author_sort	Scott D. Lowther
title	Low Level Carbon Dioxide Indoors—A Pollution Indicator or a Pollutant? A Health-Based Perspective
title_short	Low Level Carbon Dioxide Indoors—A Pollution Indicator or a Pollutant? A Health-Based Perspective
title_full	Low Level Carbon Dioxide Indoors—A Pollution Indicator or a Pollutant? A Health-Based Perspective
title_fullStr	Low Level Carbon Dioxide Indoors—A Pollution Indicator or a Pollutant? A Health-Based Perspective
title_full_unstemmed	Low Level Carbon Dioxide Indoors—A Pollution Indicator or a Pollutant? A Health-Based Perspective
title_sort	low level carbon dioxide indoors—a pollution indicator or a pollutant? a health-based perspective
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/4d04a71362f74cc7950a33923dc5722f
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Low Level Carbon Dioxide Indoors—A Pollution Indicator or a Pollutant? A Health-Based Perspective

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