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Is it plausible that rising CO2 levels are slowly causing cognitive impairment? I recall seeing studies showing a link between the two; and this would be an out

Is it plausible that rising CO2 levels are slowly causing cognitive impairment? I recall seeing studies showing a link between the two; and this would be an outcome.

elefanten 7y ago
The concentrations required for such effects are way higher than atmospheric CO2 changes that'll happen any time soon.
- dv_dt 7y ago
  If the general atmospheric concentration of CO2 is higher, what might the effect be of indoor areas where one might be testing IQs. There was just a HN discussion on how high CO2 might get say in a regular bedroom overnight. How about a testing room with multiple people exhaling CO2, vs a slower diffusion rate from the outdoors? To what end effect, I don't know. But it's an open and interesting hypothesis to explore.
  - wayoutthere 7y ago
    Right; and I suspect this would explain the reason this affected more developed countries as they would have a higher percentage of people in urban areas with high localized CO2 levels even outdoors (e.g. breathing car exhaust while walking in Manhattan or sitting in traffic). It also stands to reason that higher global CO2 levels would have some sort of correlation to higher indoor CO2 levels. What’s really scary about this is that if such a cognitive effect were to be true, it would ultimately impact our ability to address the problem. But you’re right, no need to sound the alarm bells yet but I think this is something that needs to be looked into.
  - iguy 7y ago
    I'm pretty sure it would be swamped by changes in precisely how big the average testing hall is, and how its heating system works. I would not be surprised if typical school-air CO2 level has changed by 50% over the last century, but which direction I would struggle to guess. We have more indoor space per person now, but also seal buildings tighter. Especially in summer.
scarmig 7y ago
Not particularly plausible. If you wanted to go that route, then linking rising temperatures to more uncomfortable learning and testing environments would probably be more plausible, but even that is a stretch.

Is it plausible that rising CO2 levels are slowly causing cognitive impairment? I recall seeing studies showing a link between the two; and this would be an outcome.

elefanten 7y ago

The concentrations required for such effects are way higher than atmospheric CO2 changes that'll happen any time soon.

dv_dt 7y ago
If the general atmospheric concentration of CO2 is higher, what might the effect be of indoor areas where one might be testing IQs. There was just a HN discussion on how high CO2 might get say in a regular bedroom overnight. How about a testing room with multiple people exhaling CO2, vs a slower diffusion rate from the outdoors? To what end effect, I don't know. But it's an open and interesting hypothesis to explore.
- wayoutthere 7y ago
  Right; and I suspect this would explain the reason this affected more developed countries as they would have a higher percentage of people in urban areas with high localized CO2 levels even outdoors (e.g. breathing car exhaust while walking in Manhattan or sitting in traffic). It also stands to reason that higher global CO2 levels would have some sort of correlation to higher indoor CO2 levels. What’s really scary about this is that if such a cognitive effect were to be true, it would ultimately impact our ability to address the problem. But you’re right, no need to sound the alarm bells yet but I think this is something that needs to be looked into.
- iguy 7y ago
  I'm pretty sure it would be swamped by changes in precisely how big the average testing hall is, and how its heating system works. I would not be surprised if typical school-air CO2 level has changed by 50% over the last century, but which direction I would struggle to guess. We have more indoor space per person now, but also seal buildings tighter. Especially in summer.

scarmig 7y ago

Not particularly plausible. If you wanted to go that route, then linking rising temperatures to more uncomfortable learning and testing environments would probably be more plausible, but even that is a stretch.