Naked Science Forum
General Science => General Science => Topic started by: eternity on 20/03/2014 06:36:28
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Hello,
I was recently reading that in the Devonian period, O2 was at between 21.9% - 27. 4% and CO2 levels were at between 0.34 - 0.35%.
Today (so Ive read), O2 is at 21% and CO2 at around 0.04 %. That made CO2 at around 7/8 times higher than it is now.
I have two questions,
1st/ At what level would rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere become poisonous to us?
2nd/ If it were possible for a human to go back say 350 million years to 27% o2 and 0.35% co2, what would happen? for example, would we benefit more from the oxygen or be poisoned first?
thank you
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Important to get the numbers right! Present CO2 level is 0.04%, not 0.4%!
CO2 is an asphyxiant gas and not classified as toxic or harmful.... In concentrations up to 1% (10,000 ppm), it will make some people feel drowsy. Concentrations of 7% to 10% may cause suffocation, even in the presence of sufficient oxygen,
So we might enjoy the extra oxygen, and also watching sea creatures converting the CO2 into chalk. But don't tell the climate scaremongers, who want you to believe that we are all going to die unless we pay more taxes.
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thanks, i edited that to 0.04%. :)