Fossil Fuel Combustion Is Driving Indoor CO Toward Levels Harmful to Human Cognition

Overview

Journal Geohealth

Date 2020 May 20

PMID 32426622

Citations 13

Authors

Kristopher B Karnauskas

Shelly L Miller

Anna C Schapiro

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Human activities are elevating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to levels unprecedented in human history. The majority of anticipated impacts of anthropogenic CO emissions are mediated by climate warming. Recent experimental studies in the fields of indoor air quality and cognitive psychology and neuroscience, however, have revealed significant direct effects of indoor CO levels on cognitive function. Here, we shed light on this connection and estimate the impact of continued fossil fuel emissions on human cognition. We conclude that indoor CO levels may indeed reach levels harmful to cognition by the end of this century, and the best way to prevent this hidden consequence of climate change is to reduce fossil fuel emissions. Finally, we offer recommendations for a broad, interdisciplinary approach to improving such understanding and prediction.

Citing Articles

Dynamic relationships between environment-related technologies, agricultural value added, transport infrastructure and environmental emissions in the five most populous countries.

Wang Y, Ali A, Chen Z Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):2308.

PMID: 39833221 PMC: 11747253. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-86451-8.

Graphene-Based Fiber Materials for Gas Sensing Applications: State of the Art Review.

Vu S, Siaj M, Izquierdo R Materials (Basel). 2024; 17(23).

PMID: 39685260 PMC: 11642124. DOI: 10.3390/ma17235825.

Theoretical Study of the Decomposition Reactions of 2-Vinylfuran.

He W, Zhang Q, Chen K, Nie Y, Li Y, Zhu L ACS Omega. 2024; 9(17):19063-19070.

PMID: 38708254 PMC: 11064205. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09818.

Calibration Assessment of Low-Cost Carbon Dioxide Sensors Using the Extremely Randomized Trees Algorithm.

Araujo T, Silva L, Aguiar A, Moreira A Sensors (Basel). 2023; 23(13).

PMID: 37448003 PMC: 10346366. DOI: 10.3390/s23136153.

Air quality and mental health: evidence, challenges and future directions.

Bhui K, Newbury J, Latham R, Ucci M, Nasir Z, Turner B BJPsych Open. 2023; 9(4):e120.

PMID: 37403494 PMC: 10375903. DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2023.507.

References

Vehvilainen T, Lindholm H, Rintamaki H, Paakkonen R, Hirvonen A, Niemi O . High indoor CO2 concentrations in an office environment increases the transcutaneous CO2 level and sleepiness during cognitive work. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2015; 13(1):19-29. DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2015.1076160. View

Karnauskas K, Miller S, Schapiro A . Fossil Fuel Combustion Is Driving Indoor CO Toward Levels Harmful to Human Cognition. Geohealth. 2020; 4(5):e2019GH000237. PMC: 7229519. DOI: 10.1029/2019GH000237. View

Garner M, Attwood A, Baldwin D, James A, Munafo M . Inhalation of 7.5% carbon dioxide increases threat processing in humans. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011; 36(8):1557-62. PMC: 3138667. DOI: 10.1038/npp.2011.15. View

Harter M . Effects of carbon dioxide on the alpha frequency and reaction time in humans. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1967; 23(6):561-3. DOI: 10.1016/0013-4694(67)90023-5. View

Scully R, Basner M, Nasrini J, Lam C, Hermosillo E, Gur R . Effects of acute exposures to carbon dioxide on decision making and cognition in astronaut-like subjects. NPJ Microgravity. 2019; 5:17. PMC: 6584569. DOI: 10.1038/s41526-019-0071-6. View

Woodbury D, ROLLINS L, Gardner M, Hirschi W, Hogan J, Rallison M . Effects of carbon dioxide on brain excitability and electrolytes. Am J Physiol. 1958; 192(1):79-90. DOI: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1957.192.1.79. View

Pietschnig J, Voracek M . One Century of Global IQ Gains: A Formal Meta-Analysis of the Flynn Effect (1909-2013). Perspect Psychol Sci. 2015; 10(3):282-306. DOI: 10.1177/1745691615577701. View

Bailey J, Argyropoulos S, Kendrick A, Nutt D . Behavioral and cardiovascular effects of 7.5% CO2 in human volunteers. Depress Anxiety. 2005; 21(1):18-25. DOI: 10.1002/da.20048. View

Kiray M, Sisman A, Camsari U, Evren M, Dayi A, Baykara B . Effects of carbon dioxide exposure on early brain development in rats. Biotech Histochem. 2014; 89(5):371-83. DOI: 10.3109/10520295.2013.872298. View

10.

Robertson D . The rise in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and the effects on human health. Med Hypotheses. 2001; 56(4):513-8. DOI: 10.1054/mehy.2000.1256. View

11.

Luthi D, Le Floch M, Bereiter B, Blunier T, Barnola J, Siegenthaler U . High-resolution carbon dioxide concentration record 650,000-800,000 years before present. Nature. 2008; 453(7193):379-82. DOI: 10.1038/nature06949. View

12.

Mitchell L, Lin J, Bowling D, Pataki D, Strong C, Schauer A . Long-term urban carbon dioxide observations reveal spatial and temporal dynamics related to urban characteristics and growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018; 115(12):2912-2917. PMC: 5866532. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1702393115. View

13.

Allen J, MacNaughton P, Cedeno-Laurent J, Cao X, Flanigan S, Vallarino J . Airplane pilot flight performance on 21 maneuvers in a flight simulator under varying carbon dioxide concentrations. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2018; 29(4):457-468. DOI: 10.1038/s41370-018-0055-8. View

14.

Persily A, de Jonge L . Carbon dioxide generation rates for building occupants. Indoor Air. 2017; 27(5):868-879. PMC: 5666301. DOI: 10.1111/ina.12383. View

15.

Xu F, Uh J, Brier M, Hart Jr J, Yezhuvath U, Gu H . The influence of carbon dioxide on brain activity and metabolism in conscious humans. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2010; 31(1):58-67. PMC: 3049465. DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2010.153. View

16.

Haverinen-Shaughnessy U, Shaughnessy R . Effects of Classroom Ventilation Rate and Temperature on Students' Test Scores. PLoS One. 2015; 10(8):e0136165. PMC: 4552953. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136165. View

17.

Gasparrini A, Guo Y, Sera F, Vicedo-Cabrera A, Huber V, Tong S . Projections of temperature-related excess mortality under climate change scenarios. Lancet Planet Health. 2017; 1(9):e360-e367. PMC: 5729020. DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(17)30156-0. View

18.

Satish U, Mendell M, Shekhar K, Hotchi T, Sullivan D, Streufert S . Is CO2 an indoor pollutant? Direct effects of low-to-moderate CO2 concentrations on human decision-making performance. Environ Health Perspect. 2012; 120(12):1671-7. PMC: 3548274. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1104789. View

19.

Vytal K, Cornwell B, Arkin N, Grillon C . Describing the interplay between anxiety and cognition: from impaired performance under low cognitive load to reduced anxiety under high load. Psychophysiology. 2012; 49(6):842-52. PMC: 3345059. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2012.01358.x. View

20.

Shendell D, Prill R, Fisk W, Apte M, Blake D, Faulkner D . Associations between classroom CO2 concentrations and student attendance in Washington and Idaho. Indoor Air. 2004; 14(5):333-41. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2004.00251.x. View