Why measure CO2? What are dangerous CO2 levels in ppm? What is the maximum CO2 level in a room or in the air?

The Link Between CO2 and Our Health

CO2 emissions into the atmosphere pose a major threat to the balance of our planet, but excessive indoor exposure can also pose risks to human health.
High CO2 concentrations can lead to symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, reduced concentration and cognitive function, and an increased incidence of respiratory infections.

Currently, there is no technological solution for removing CO2 from a room, with the exception of certain industrial applications.
Ventilation (air exchange) remains the only effective method for bringing CO2 levels back down to an acceptable level.
However, it is crucial to know when CO2 levels become too high. As an invisible and odorless molecule, CO2 can only be detected and measured using specific sensors.

The image above illustrates carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration levels in the air, measured in parts per million (ppm), and their impact on indoor air quality.
It also specifies the CO2 threshold at which it becomes essential to ventilate the room.

At concentrations of 400 ppm, outdoor air is considered excellent. When CO2 levels reach 600 ppm, air quality is still good.

However, between 600 and 1,000 ppm, air quality becomes moderate, indicating that it is time to ventilate your indoor spaces to maintain a healthy environment.

The maximum CO2 level in a room is 1,000 ppm; at this level, air quality is considered poor, and above 2,000 ppm, it is critical and poses a health risk.

These recommendations, issued by the High Council for Public Health, emphasize the importance of proper ventilation and adequate air circulation to prevent the harmful effects of CO2 on health.

Using CO2 sensors makes it possible to monitor these levels and take appropriate action to ensure good indoor air quality.

Why measure CO₂? Breathe clean air with Air Coach

Indoor air quality plays a vital role in our well-being and health.
Yet we spend nearly 90% of our time indoors, where the air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoors.
Among the many invisible pollutants, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a key indicator of air renewal and the need to ventilate or purify a space.
With Air Coach, NatéoSanté helps NatéoSanté analyze and improve your indoor air in a simple and educational way.

CO₂: Why Measure It?

CO₂ is naturally present in the air, but its concentration rises rapidly in an enclosed space due to human respiration.
High CO₂ levels can lead to:

• fatigue and headaches
• decreased concentration and drowsiness
• poor oxygenation of the brain
• a feeling of discomfort and stuffiness

Measuring CO₂ levels helps you determine when it’s time to ventilate and take the right steps to ensure good indoor air quality.

What are the CO₂ limits that should not be exceeded?

The CO₂ level is expressed in ppm (parts per million) and provides a direct indication of the quality of air exchange.

Is an air filtration system necessary?

If natural ventilation is not sufficient to ensure acceptable air quality, it may be necessary to install an air purification and filtration system.
Our NatéoSanté professional air purifiers help NatéoSanté :

• reduce CO₂ levels and refresh the air in addition to natural ventilation
• remove fine particles, viruses, and allergens
• improve comfort and concentration in enclosed spaces

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a CO2 sensor is also a good way to remind yourself to ventilate regularly

“CO₂ is a gas exhaled during human respiration,” explains the daily newspaper Le Monde in an article dated October 16, 2020.
“Changes in the concentration of this gas therefore make it possible to measure the effect of mechanical or manual ventilation caused by opening doors and windows, just as they indicate the presence of people in the room.”

“As soon as you install a sensor in a room that measures CO2 levels, it triggers a reflex to ventilate,” explains Benoit Semin, a researcher at the CNRS, in the same publication.
While this is a common-sense reflex, there is not yet a scientifically determined alert threshold to correlate CO2 levels with an increased potential risk of COVID-19 transmission via indoor air spread.

“It is currently impossible to answer this question, as no one knows what viral load is infectious, let alone what concentration in the air would pose a risk,” writes Le Monde.
In the meantime, it is advisable to continue monitoring and maintaining CO2 levels at an acceptable threshold and to ventilate the space when that level is exceeded.

What role does CO2 play in outdoor air pollution?

Although CO2 occurs naturally, it is accumulating at excessive levels in the atmosphere due to human activities, thereby exacerbating global warming and ocean acidification.

In its latest report, the IPCC emphasizes that human activities have caused unprecedented global warming, resulting in a 1.1°C increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature compared to pre-industrial levels.

Regardless of the emissions scenario considered, the IPCC predicts that global warming will reach 1.5°C by the early 2030s.

To limit global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C, it is imperative to immediately accelerate and intensify efforts to reduce emissions by:

• reducing global net CO2 emissions to zero
• drastically reducing other greenhouse gases

Solutions are being considered with the aim of mitigating the impacts of these emissions:

• the reduction in consumption and the use of fossil fuels
• the production and use of carbon-free energy
• energy-efficient renovation and passive house construction
• the use of green and sustainable transportation
• reducing waste and pollution
• promoting agroecology, tree planting, and water reuse

At the same time, new technologies are emerging with the aim of reducing or eliminating CO2 at the source.
There are currently two methods:

• Carbon capture and storage (CCS): a process for capturing carbon emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels at the point of release from industrial facilities.
  It is worth noting that in Europe, the CASTOR project, launched in 2004, was already aimed at developing CO2 capture technologies.
  Currently, approximately thirty facilities are operational worldwide, primarily in the United States, capturing 40 million tons of CO2 per year.
  According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero Emission by 2050 scenario, the goal is to capture 7.6 gigatons of CO2 annually by 2050, thanks to technological advances in the field of carbon capture.
• Direct air capture (DAC): a method for extracting CO₂ from the air using ventilation systems and chemical processes.
  However, this technique is more complex due to its high energy consumption and cost.
  All of this research represents a significant financial investment, in addition to requiring high energy consumption.
  At the same time, questions regarding the storage and reuse of this carbon dioxide remain unresolved.