When stuffy: a stuffy room and hypercapnia

Though people often hear that they lack oxygen, in fact the problem in a stuffy room often is with a different gas — carbon dioxide.

Today we talk about the excess carbon dioxide in the body (hypercapnia), which traps us in many a stuffy room (and not only) is the cause of many troubles.



Carbon dioxide CO2 enters the earth's atmosphere. Its average concentration in the air is approximately of 0.035% or 350 ppm — ppm (parts per million). Geochemical studies have shown that about the same level within a few hundredths of a percent — has remained unchanged for hundreds of thousands of years.

But the atmosphere of places of human habitation — cities, especially metropolises, really is generated when our direct participation. In the second half of the last century the concentration of CO2 in the countryside was the same "renesemee" 350 ppm in small towns to 500 ppm, in the large industrial centers of 600-700 ppm. And this, however, did not limit.


You know that we inhale oxygen (O2) and exhale carbon dioxide (CO2) and breath depends on the activity (table). Carbon dioxide in the premises is formed only as a product of human activity, which exhales 100 times more CO2 than inhales. Consuming about 30 liters of oxygen per hour, each of us allocates 20-25 liters of carbon dioxide. People in the room produces approximately 35.2 grams of CO2 per hour, respectively, if the room is 20 m2 with a height of 2.5 meters, without ventilation every hour, the concentration of carbon dioxide will rise 584ppm every hour.


 

A slight increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in humans causes a feeling of "spartali" air of stuffiness. We clearly feel it when you come into the room. But our respiratory center plastic and after 10 minutes we stop to notice it. A more significant increase of concentration, the symptoms become worse: "heavy" head, dizziness, headaches, and up to irreversible changes in the human body. At the same time most of us know the feeling of stuffiness in the room and the symptoms associated with this including fatigue, drowsiness, irritability. Such a state many associate with lack of oxygen. Actually, these are symptoms caused by the excess level of carbon dioxide in the air. Still enough oxygen and carbon dioxide already in excess.


Symptoms in healthy adults , the Concentration of carbon dioxide

• Normal levels of outdoor 350 — 450 ppm
• Acceptable levels < 600 ppm
• Complaints of stale air 600 — 1000 ppm
• The maximum level of ASHRAE standards and OSHA 1000 ppm
• A General sluggishness of 1000 — 2500 ppm
• Possible adverse effects on health 2500 — 5000 ppm
• The maximum allowable concentration for 8 hour working day
• 5000 ppm

Where is the limit to which we can not worry about your health? The question is relevant, since a large part of life of modern people, especially urban dweller, all the same conducts in the premises, the microclimate and the atmosphere which differed substantially from the conditions of open space. At the same time, we know that a significant (tenfold) increase in the content of CO2 in the air causes a sharp deterioration of health, and the concentration of more than 5% (50 000 ppm) for a person becomes fatal. The proliferation of plastic Windows has exacerbated the problem of carbon dioxide. Why the apartment has high level of CO2? Three main reasons: plastic Windows, non-working extractor fan and the lack of ventilation, failure to comply with sanitary standards — a large number of people in a small room. Once again: the plastic box without valves — a source of elevated levels of CO2 in quarterpanel CO2 is an indicator of the quality of ventilation in General!Today the level of CO2 concentration in the room is the main indicator of air quality. It acts as a gas indicator by which to judge not only other pollutants, but also about how well the ventilation system in the building. Research in the classroom have shown that if air is present, also carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde, it is enough to look only at CO2. If ventilation to cope with him, the other pollutants also remain at a low level. Moreover, CO2 can be judged on the number of bacteria in the air. The more carbon dioxide, the worse the coping ventilation and the more in the air of various bacteria and fungi. Especially clearly noticeable in the winter when the ventilation rate decreases, and the number of respiratory infections increases. In principle, that the air is clean, it is sufficient to exchange with the outer atmosphere at the rate of 30 m3 per hour per person. Such raw data lays in the design of the ventilation system office and residential premises, which should provide the most comfortable 600 ppm and not more. Although about the comfort level that some researchers have expressed very serious doubts. For example, the Englishman D. Robertson argues that the existing Land fauna, including man, were formed in a certain temperature and gaseous environment in which the content of carbon dioxide not exceeded 300-350 ppm. According to the calculations of Robertson, which he published in the journal of the Indian Academy of Sciences, the maximum safe for human levels of CO2 are equal to 426 ppm. In the city of such level even in the Park can not be, alas. How does an increased CO2 level? Immediately say, that we are talking about chronic the excess. A short person can inhale much greater quantities of carbon dioxide without visible damage: 30,000 ppm – mild poisoning, quickens the pulse and respiratory rate, nausea and vomiting, 50,000 ppm is Added headache and slight disturbance of consciousness, 100.000 ppm – death.


The main mechanisms of action of carbon dioxide (chronic excess): 1. The expansion of the blood vessels of the brain: headache. People stradajosie migraines and predisposed to headaches, celebrate their appearance at the level of 1000 ppm. 2. Negative impact on the respiratory system. In the first place for asthmatics, people with bronchite etc. speeds up attacks. 3. Impact on performance: attention, switching, stress, etc. 4. The change in acid-base status of blood. Long-term effects have not been studied, causes mild acidosis.


5. Worsens sleep (increased snoring), possibly marked deterioration in the quality of sleep.published Author: Andrey Blueskin P. S. And remember, only by changing their consumption — together we change the world! © Join us at Facebook , Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki

Source: www.beloveshkin.com/2015/04/kogda-dushno-dushnoe-pomeshhenie-i-giperkapniya.html