What is Carbon Dioxide?
When two molecules of oxygen bond with a single molecule of carbon, the resultant is known as carbon dioxide or CO2. It is a chemical compound that stays in a gaseous state at room temperature. Once the pressure is increased, it becomes a liquid form, and further into a solid (in the form of dry ice).
In simpler terms, carbon dioxide is the air you breathe out. All living beings produce a significant amount of carbon dioxide through breathing and other metabolic processes. Besides this, there are multiple ways of releasing carbon dioxide into the air.
Volcanic eruptions, burning of fossils, photosynthesis, decomposition of old, decaying matter, animal and plant respiration, a by-product of various industrial processes like brewing, calcining of limestone, smelting are some of the various sources of carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide is an odorless, tasteless gas that is transparent in appearance. It is a primary greenhouse gas, which means that it helps significantly to trap heat into the earth’s atmosphere and keep it warm. However, an increase in the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has led to the world-known phenomenon of global warming.
Importance of Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide is considered an essential chemical compound in a number of ways. Let us have a look at a few:
- Carbon dioxide, a chemical building block, is the source of life on Earth. Plants, being autotrophs, synthesize their own food through the process of photosynthesis. By utilizing the energy of photos through the sunlight, the plants convert carbon dioxide, which is exhaled by mammals, and water, which they get from the soil, into sugar and oxygen.
- Carbon dioxide helps to increase the surface temperature of Earth above water’s freezing point.
- A higher concentration of carbon dioxide helps in increasing crop yields. When the rate of photosynthesis is increased, growth in the crops can be observed.
- It helps in the making of dry ice, pumps crude oil, and facilitates the manufacture of cement.
- Surprisingly, carbon dioxide is used as a major ingredient in human food including baked goods like cake and biscuits.
- Where humans are concerned, depletion in the levels of carbon dioxide in the body can inhibit the release of oxygen in other tissues and cells.
- It is used to dissolve aragonite into an aquarium and also control and balance the pH value of water in swimming pools, and aquariums.
Effects of Carbon Dioxide
Increased levels of carbon dioxide can affect the health of human beings in several ways. Constant exposure to the gas can result in dizziness, severe headaches, breathlessness, sweating, nausea, high blood pressure, asphyxia, and many acute diseases and health issues.
Carbon dioxide promotes the greenhouse effect. In a balanced proportion, it can keep the earth warm and protect it from getting severely cold. However, an increased greenhouse effect can turn things for the worse.
When the carbon dioxide levels are elevated, a thick blanket of the gas is created in the atmosphere, which traps most of the heat and sunlight. This prevents the heat energy from escaping into space, and the atmosphere gets warmer and warmer.
This results in global warming due to which Ice caps are melted, and the water level of the oceans is increased. This eventually results in the depletion of shorelines and wetlands.
Carbon dioxide also contributes to the production of acid rain. When fossil fuels are burnt, the emissions released get combined with the air’s moisture, resulting in high content of precipitation in the form of acid rain.
Measuring Carbon Dioxide at the Time of Covid
In covid times, measuring carbon dioxide levels indoors was/is considered an effective tool. It helps in monitoring the risk of people catching Covid.
When, in an enclosed setting, the levels of carbon dioxide are doubled, the chances of getting affected by Covid-19 are also most likely to occur.
Monitoring the levels of carbon dioxide was considered as one of the most economical ways of monitoring the risk of Covid-19. This could be done with the help of carbon dioxide monitors which were commercially available for only a few dollars.
One is advised to keep a CO2 monitor always handy. It can be used to check the concentration of CO2 in the air and eventually reduce its impact on health by taking proper measures in time.
Carbon Dioxide Levels with Health Effects
<1000 ppm: The safe zone, no health implications.
1000 ppm-2500 ppm: Lack of concentration, fatigue, and headaches.
2500 ppm-5000 ppm: Drowsiness.
5000 ppm-40000 ppm: Severe headaches and feeling of being intoxicated.
40000 ppm-100000 ppm: Imminent threat to life; breathlessness, high heart rate.
>100000 ppm: May turn fatal.
Wrap Up | How to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emission in The Atmosphere
The key takeaway from this piece of article is that even though carbon dioxide has a crucial role to play when it comes to sustaining all forms of life present on earth, from plants to animals, it is important to monitor and control the level of this gas produced in the air.
You will not only have a sound sleep but will also increase the shelf life of planet Earth. Here are a few ways on how you can reduce it:
- Small modifications in the lifestyle by reducing the burning of fossils, investing in goods that are energy-efficient, and less use of gasoline in automobiles can lead to a slow, but drastic change in the levels of carbon dioxide in the air.
- Prepare compost to reuse the organic waste that is produced at home. Compost the waste to turn it into manure, which can be further used to grow plants and trees.
- Switch to appliances that are clean, green, and renewable.
- Reduce deforestation.
- Always make sure to get as much outdoor air inside your house as possible to promote ventilation and dilute the effects of carbon dioxide.
References:
- https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/how-climate-works/carbon-dioxide
- https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/nasa-study-rising-carbon-dioxide-levels-will-help-and-hurt-crops/
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/chemical/carbondioxide.htm
- https://sciencing.com/list-5921485-effects-carbon-dioxide-air-pollution.html
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210407143809.htm