The document discusses potential issues with carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in indoor air quality and their effects on human productivity. The author notes subjective experiences of fatigue in meetings that could be caused by high CO2 levels. Studies cited show decreases in decision-making skills at CO2 levels between 1000-2500 ppm, with general drowsiness occurring between 1000-2500 ppm and potential health effects above 2500 ppm. To address this, the author recommends testing CO2 levels in the building and implementing solutions like improved ventilation if high levels are found.

1. NevinSawyer
OperationsEngineeringCo-op
January23rd
, 2014
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Carbon Dioxide and Productivity Effects
Objective: To raise awareness about potential issues in air quality and CO2 levels and to propose
solution ideas on this topic.
As an industrial engineering major, part of what I study and try to monitor is human efficiency. There is
reason to suspect that throughout this building, the conference rooms specifically, human efficiency is
not being maximized due to potentially elevated levels of carbon dioxide. While relatively lower levels -
up to 5000 ppm (parts per million) - of CO2 generally do not pose serious health risks (1), there are
relevant studies that illustrate how CO2 in lower and realistic office setting ranges - 0 ppm to 5000 ppm
- can cause decrease in decision making skills, information usage, and motivation.
During some meetings in the conference room, I personally have noticed increased fatigue and lack of
alertness beyond normal levels for myself--some may claim it is just boredom, but that does not seem to
stand true for me. I have also talked to other people who have noticed similar effects. In school, I have
studied issues about air quality and its effects on human productivity, and these observed symptoms
seem like indications of air quality that could use improvement. However, these are just subjective
claims that require scientific backing.
One study by the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory states that “The primary indoor source of CO2
in office buildings is the respiration of the building occupants” (3). During conferences there are many
people enclosed within a sealed room; people exhale CO2 and the sealed room does not allow air to
escape, potentially escalating CO2 levels. Furthermore, a separate study cites meeting places as being
able to reach levels up to 2000 ppm (4), where the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air
Conditioning Engineers recommends this should be no more than 800 ppm (1) for optimum conditions.
This evidence has led me to believe that the CO2 levels inside of this building might not be ideal.
EHP (Environmental Health Perspectives) gives clear evidence into the effects of higher amounts of
CO2 exposure on productivity. Their study was performed by placing three groups of people into
different rooms with varied levels of pure CO2 contained (600 ppm, 1000 ppm, 2500 ppm) where
temperature and ventilation were held constant (2). These groups were not given knowledge to the
amount of CO2 in the room before they were given a computer test called the Strategic Management
Simulation to test decision making skills (2). Another similar, but separate, study confirms these results
on the same computer test where the exposed levels were 400 ppm, 1000 ppm, and 2500 ppm (5). The
results of both of these studies are displayed below as Figures 1 and 2 respectively. In addition, The
Engineering Toolbox cites carbon dioxide levels from 1000-2500ppm as creating “general drowsiness”
in people, and the range from 2500-5000ppm is where “adverse health effects [should be] expected” (6).
These levels are not unheard of in office spaces.

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While I cannot say for sure if there is or is not too much CO2 inside our building, I do believe that this
issue is significant enough to look into. Impaired initiative and decision making skills in a conference
room sounds like a recipe for economic repercussions (perhaps subtle ones albeit). Not to mention, some
of the effects such as “general drowsiness” are just uncomfortable and not ideal. To avoid this, I
recommend that we at least buy a CO2 sensor, if we do not already have one, to test the air in the
building. If we find high levels of CO2 there are steps to be taken: better ventilation, CO2 filters,
opening more doors/windows, green plants, and possibly limiting the number of people at meetings
(when possible). If there are not high levels, then the sensor could be reserved for periodic checking. Of
course pros, cons, costs, and practicality of any changes need to be considered first.
In my research, I found many studies on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and its effects on productivity, health,
and well-being. Other factors besides carbon dioxide can affect the IAQ including temperature, different
levels of gasses, air pressure, light, and air humidity among other things. I found this an interesting topic
with many scientific debates to sort through, and I think it’s worth investigating more. If CO2 level
adjustments are out of the budget, then perhaps some other factors of IAQ should be studied and
controlled to promote a better working environment.
References:
1.) Prill, R. (n.d.). Why measure carbon dioxide inside buildings?. Retrieved from
http://www.energy.wsu.edu/Documents/CO2inbuildings.pdf
2.) Satish , U., Mendell, M., Shekhar, K., Hotchi, T., Sullivan, D., Streufert, S., & Fisk, W. (2012,
December). Is co2 an indoor pollutant? direct effects of low-to-moderate co2 concentrations on
human decision-making performance. Retrieved from http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/wp-
content/uploads/120/12/ehp.1104789.pdf
3.) Fisk, W., Apte, M., & Daisy, J. (2000). Associations between indoor co2 concentrations and sick
building syndrome symptoms in u.s. office buildings: An analysis of the 1994-1996 base study
data. Retrieved from http://nsdi.epa.gov/iaq/base/pdfs/indoorair20-247.pdf
4.) Carbon dioxide (co2) hvac basics. (1998). Retrieved from
http://www.longviewweb.com/carbondioxide.pdf
5.) Satish, U., Mendell, M., & Fisk, W. (2010, April). Impact of co2 on human. Retrieved from
http://syracusecoe.org/coe/images/allmedia/ResearchProjects/http://syracusecoe.org/coe/iimage/a
llmedia/ResearchProjects/SATISHCIIImpactCO2HumanDecMakingProductivityHumanDecMak
ingPro.pdf

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6.) Carbon dioxide comfort levels. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/co2-
comfort-level-d_1024.htm

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