The human brain evolved when CO2 levels were lower

theatlantic.com

16 points·chris1993··5 comments

I bought a CO2 monitor, and did the same experiment at my office, few weeks ago. I work in a very crowded room, with only one window.

At first the CO2 measurement was "out of range" (>=3000 ppm), but it was not a surprise because I already suspected something was wrong with the ventilation system. It has been fixed now, but CO2 levels hardly fall under 1500 ppm.

My advice is to open one or more windows whenever possible, at least one hour per day. If possible, one window should be opened the whole day. CO2 tends to accumulate in ambient air and it takes times to dissipate, far more than I imagined.

IMHO the Atlantic should wait for peer review before scaring everybody with sensational fears.

EDIT: having read further down I see this article isn't about just the one paper - maybe my comments need peer review.

Will turn-of-the-century HVAC systems incorporate CO2 scrubbers?

For contemporary home HVAC setups, air exchange systems are already an option. There are also air exchange systems that trigger based on CO2 concentrations. They’re demand-driven because concentrations can vary day to day depending on weather conditions, including wind.

I'd highly recommend everyone buy a CO2 monitor. You can get an all-in-one monitor on AliExpress for about $80.

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