CO2 is one of the most dangerous wastes to our Ozone layer, resulting in the increase of Earth’s temperature (Global Warming) and that will also result into major disasters. CO2 is not only dangerous to the Ozone layer, but it is also dangerous to us as individuals, its toxicity to us and its effects increase with the concentration of CO2 in the air. The exposure to CO2 will result in to the following. (Given in volume percent of CO2 in the air)
1. 1%, as can occur in a crowded auditorium with poor ventilation, can cause drowsiness with prolonged exposure.
2. At 2% it is mildly narcotic and causes increased blood pressure and pulse rate, and causes reduced hearing.
3. At about 5% it causes stimulation of the respiratory centre, dizziness, confusion and difficulty in breathing accompanied by headache and shortness of breath, In addition at these concentration panic attacks may occur.
4. At about 8% it causes headache, sweating, dim vision, tremor and loss of consciousness after exposure for between five and ten minutes.
A natural disaster linked to CO2 intoxication occurred during the limbic eruptions in the CO2-rich lakes of Monoun and Nyos in the Okun range of North-West Cameroon: the gas was brutally expelled from the mountain lakes and leaked into the surrounding valleys, killing most animal forms. During the Lake Nyos tragedy of 1988, 1700 villagers and 3500 livestock died.
After understanding the dangers of CO2 to the atmosphere and the dangers of it to us as individuals, I now take you to one of the solutions to the problem of CO2. After the studies and the research for solutions to prevent the toxicity, many industrial countries issued Emission Standards.
Emission Standards are requirements that set specific limits to the amount of pollutants that can be released into the environment. Many emissions standards focus on regulating pollutants released by transportation (cars, buses and trains) and other powered vehicles but they can also regulate emissions from industry, power plants, small equipment such as lawn mowers and diesel generators. Frequent policy alternatives to emissions standards are technology standards (which mandate the use of a specific technology) and emission trading.
On the other hand, till today there has been no absolute solution to prevent the release of Carbon Dioxide to our atmosphere, only rules and regulations to reduce CO2. We all need to be creative and responsible to help find a solution to this problem, for it’s not just you and me who will get affected, it’s the whole planet with all living things.
