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Signs and Symptoms of CO2 Exposure

All living organisms inhale carbon dioxide as one of the many gases present in the hodgepodge known as air. Under normal circumstances, your body retains oxygen and exhales most of the carbon dioxide back into the air. High levels of CO2 can result from various physiological conditions, such as cardio pulmonary disease and lung infection, or through occupational hazards, such as repairing furnaces or using malfunctioning SCUBA gear. The signs of carbon dioxide poisoning depend on the length and severity of exposure.

  1. Mild Exposure

    • Even the most mild exposure to CO2 will cause noticeable symptoms. Inhaling air with 2 percent CO2 for several hours makes breathing difficult even during light activity, such as doing dishes or picking up toys. With an increase to 3 percent CO2, breathing while sitting still becomes strained after just one hour. A mild headache and minor sweating will also develop during a single hour of 3 percent CO2 exposure.

    Moderate Exposure

    • Moderate exposure occurs in less than 10 minutes while inhaling air with CO2 percentages between 4 and 6 percent. At 4 and 5 percent CO2, breathing becomes uncomfortable. Rapid breathing is your body attempting to expell the excess CO2 through exhalation. The lack of oxygen will also cause dizziness. At 6 percent CO2, your sensory processing abilities, particularly hearing and vision, will begin deteriorating after just a few minutes. Several hours of 6 percent CO2 exposure will trigger bodily tremors in addition to the list of aforementioned affects.

    Severe Exposure

    • CO2 exposures between 7 and 15 percent can cause severe symptoms in less than one minute. After just a few minutes of inhaling air between 7 and 10 percent CO2, you'll experience extreme difficulty breathing, sweating, dizziness and an acute headache. Within a few hours of this same exposure, the lack of oxygen will render you nearly or completely unconscious. Less than one minute of exposure to CO2 levels between 10 and 15 percent, will cause disorientation and violent muscle twitching followed quickly by unconsciousness.

    Fatal Exposure

    • Fatal levels of exposure occur in less than one minute where the CO2 percentage is between 17 and 30 percent. Dizziness and rapid breathing progresses to complete loss of muscle control and convulsions within seconds. Coma and death become imminent within a few minutes of unconsciousness.

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