The Potential Risk of Carbon Dioxide Gas in Closed Areas in Faculty Places - Study Case

Introduction

Carbon dioxide gas is the main greenhouse which is coming from different sources like combustion of organic matter, fossil fuel and deforestation, ocean release etc. In addition, human being exhales CO₂ during his respiration and the average human exhales about 2.3pounds of carbon dioxide on an average day [1]. The study was conducted in public faculty place where many students who used to come to the college in order to have their lessons in different majors. Therefore, there are sitting in different classrooms, library and canteen or roaming and walking between corridors. Three parameters were measured, and they are temperature and humidity and Concentration of Carbon dioxide in both units as % & ppm. The target of study was to correlate between concentration of CO₂ and the presence of students at different locations with various times. Thus, the classrooms and crowed areas with human being started to become hotter and hotter with passing time and especially with less ventilation sources such as exhaust fans or fresh air exchanger system because of releasing of CO₂ in second. As it is noticed the windows will be closed in order to make the rooms cooler and cooler but that will condense gases and settle down on the student’ bodies. The below picture shows the reality of situation of students in their classrooms with less ventilation and closed windows during class session and it is same everywhere in the world ( Picture 1).

Picture 1: The Situation of students in their classes session with less ventilation system.

It is obvious how availability of accumulated carbon dioxide gas in upper layers of atmosphere could affects the climate and make different environmental issues, but it is necessary to explore to its potential effects on closed areas like vehicles, offices, classrooms, halls, and libraries because most of these places have less ventilation systems. Definitely, it is noticed that there are some side effects on human being’ body especially if they are staying for long time in same place without air exchanger system. First, some of sickness like Feeling lazy, headache, Difficulty breathing, coughing, Lack of concentration and all these symptoms can start to appear because of declination in Oxygen level and increment of CO₂ in those rooms. Many students and workers cannot spend more than two houses in their classes or offices without having movement. Also many demised cases had been reported in cars due to heart attack or Choking and pain in feet especially at the night during sleeping in bedroom or even though in cars or buses with travelling for long distances which will take around nine hours and more than that like travelling in airplane. It is right there are safe levels of CO₂ concentration in rooms which could let people to feel comfort, but they are not enough aware about precautions which need to be taken in case high level of gas reaches. The Table 1 shows safe levels of CO₂ in rooms, so it is recommended to install Monitor device in order to observe CO₂ concentration in closed places which have a poor ventilation system (Table 1).

Table 1: The Safe level of CO₂ concentration (ppm) in rooms.

There are some studies which had reported that, the indoor concentration of Carbon dioxide in classroom needs to be below 700ppm. From point of view, it is devisable because as normal outdoor concentration with 400ppm, so it supposes to be closer or little more. Because people keep it the gas by different other ways, injection though skin or mouth.

Collection of Data

Two devices were used to measure the concentration of CO₂ at different locations over the college. The names of devices are Gas detector (PGas-21-CO₂) and Globe instrument (P Gas-41). The readings were recorded at different time in different places in campus for short period.

Table 2: The concentration of CO₂ ppm at different locations.

In order to see the variation in concentration of CO₂ so Table 2 shows the concentration of CO₂ gas was in range between 762-779 ppm and most readings were in afternoon time.

Factors need to be considered in order to get more realistic facts about the concentration of carbon dioxide. Constant installation for devices for longer time and it needs to be connected to software system for immediately analysis. Also, it supposes not to be random but specified location needed to study as wise as possible [2].

Many trials need to be conducted in order to confess the reasons behind increment of CO₂ in some places but definitely the main reason is the presence of many of student in same time at same place that leads to record high concentration for CO₂ gas.

Results

Both graphs showed there was increment in concentration of CO₂ in most place during different afternoon and morning time. The readings were in range as it has been reported in Table 1 so that means their good ventilation system such as presence of windows could help in releasing some of gas particulates (Table 3).

Table 3: The concentration of CO₂ ppm at different locations and times.

Conclusion

As the number of students is increasing in such place, that will lead to increase the concentration of Carbon dioxide which could affect the atmosphere of the class and make hotter, then most of students are losing their interest and caution to their classes but it can be managed by good ventilation system which will help to maintain the refreshment in the classroom.

References

• Rate of CO₂ as exhaling from Human Being.
• What are safe levels of CO and CO₂ in rooms?