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posted by martyb on Monday February 17 2020, @08:50AM   Printer-friendly
from the Bring-on-the-bottled-air dept.

The world's carbon-dioxide problem doesn't just affect the atmosphere — the gas is starting to fill our homes, schools, and offices, too.

Indoor levels of the gas are projected to climb so high, in fact, that they could cut people's ability to do complex cognitive tasks in half by the end of the century.

That prediction comes from three scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Pennsylvania, who presented their findings last week at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union. The study is still under peer review but available online in the repository Earth ArXiv.

The findings show that, if global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions continue to rise on their current trajectory, the concentration of CO2 in the air could more than double by 2100. Based on measurements of how humans function in spaces with that much CO2, the scientists warn, we could find ourselves scoring 50% lower on measures of complex thought by the end of the century.


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  • (Score: 2) by acid andy on Monday February 17 2020, @11:52AM (7 children)

    by acid andy (1683) on Monday February 17 2020, @11:52AM (#959114) Homepage Journal

    I often find modern buildings are so well insulated they can quickly feel stuffy and make me feel a bit drowsy and less productive until I let some fresh air in. In a heavily polluted city I understand the use of air conditioning but if you're lucky enough to not be there just open the window.

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  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by khallow on Monday February 17 2020, @12:35PM (2 children)

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Monday February 17 2020, @12:35PM (#959129) Journal
    And stick some plants in the office.
    • (Score: 2, Informative) by JoeMerchant on Monday February 17 2020, @02:08PM (1 child)

      by JoeMerchant (3937) on Monday February 17 2020, @02:08PM (#959157)

      Careful with the plants when you switch off the lights - they expire CO2 also.

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      • (Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Monday February 17 2020, @03:40PM

        by barbara hudson (6443) <barbara.Jane.hudson@icloud.com> on Monday February 17 2020, @03:40PM (#959183) Journal
        But they also absorb the toxic outgassing from printers, photocopiers, motherboards, power supplies, screens, acoustic tiles, floor and wall coverings, cubicle dividers, and your stinky co-workers.
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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by c0lo on Monday February 17 2020, @01:37PM (3 children)

    by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday February 17 2020, @01:37PM (#959143) Journal

    I often find modern buildings are so well insulated they can quickly feel stuffy and make me feel a bit drowsy and less productive until I let some fresh air in.

    Go out and take a ciggie break.

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    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 17 2020, @03:08PM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 17 2020, @03:08PM (#959173)

      Going out to smoke at the building's lepers' colony is the opposite of getting fresh air

      • (Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Monday February 17 2020, @03:42PM (1 child)

        by barbara hudson (6443) <barbara.Jane.hudson@icloud.com> on Monday February 17 2020, @03:42PM (#959184) Journal
        Ever since they passed a law banning smoking within 9 meters of any building opening, it's actually possible to go outside without getting gassed.
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        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 17 2020, @04:22PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 17 2020, @04:22PM (#959196)

          I'm not sure that's an advantage.