How can carbon dioxide be considered a pollutant when it is a natural component of air?

Answer 1

The Vostok ice core samples from Antarctica showed that the concentrations of carbon dioxide had been in the range of 260 to 280 parts per million (ppm) throughout all human history until the beginning of the Industrial Age, falling to around 160 ppm during the Ice Ages.

This has increased by around 35 per cent to the present level of 380 ppm due mainly to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, and therefore should not be regarded as a natural occurrence.

Chemical determination of CO2 levels from the 1800's and early 1900's by noble prize winning science experts showed levels of CO2 in our atmosphere to be around 400 ppm throughout most of this time period, with highs of over 430 ppm.

Determining an actual average is a very difficult process. The largest producer of CO2 is nature and when determining levels of CO2, it is important to stay away from prime contributors of CO2, like rotting vegetation or volcanoes.

Answer 2

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases absorb the sun's heat as it radiates up from the surface of the earth. The greenhouse gases warm themselves and then re-radiate the heat in all directions.

The carbon cycle moves carbon in and out of the atmosphere in a natural process which supports the greenhouse effect, which keeps the Earth warm.

Carbon dioxide is building up, at present, because we are burning fossil fuels. This adds to the greenhouse gases there already, and there is nothing that can remove this extra amount. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been very small, about 280 parts per million for thousands of years, but it only takes a small amount to keep the earth warm. In the past 200 years, levels have risen from 280 ppm to the present 400 ppm (2014).

Answer 3

Yes it's natural that's what we as humans breathe out, we breath in oxygen and whatever else is in that same breathe and breath out Co2(carbon dioxide). Volcano's release it, plants release it when they die.

Answer 4

Yes. Humans naturally produce carbon dioxide as we exhale our breath.

AnswerYes. Without carbon dioxide in the air, there could be no life as we know it. Naturally occurring carbon dioxide helps keep the earth at a comfortable temperature, suitable for human existence. Plants absorb carbon dioxide to grow, and animals eat plants. In turn, humans and all other animals exhale carbon dioxide as part of a natural cycle that maintains a stable concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The problem arises when we add additional carbon dioxide from carbon that has been sequestered underground for millions of years, raising the concentration from 260-280 parts per million to the present 390 parts per million.

Answer 5

Carbon dioxide is the life force of plants while oxygen is ours. Carbon dioxide can be made without the help of natural forces and because of that it causes and imbalance between the oxygen/carbon dioxide connection we have with plants. With this imbalance we can cause both us and plants to suffer.

Answer 6

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere keeping the earth warm enough for life. As part of the carbon cycle it moves out of the atmosphere into growing vegetation through photosynthesis.

Answer 7

While carbon dioxide is a natural component of the atmosphere, human activities like burning fossil fuels have significantly increased its levels, leading to negative impacts such as global warming and climate change. These elevated levels of carbon dioxide are what classify it as a pollutant when it exceeds the natural balance in the atmosphere.

Answer 8

it is very use full for plant,for procceing food. plants are useful for us .us a reasult co2 is useful.exxess of co2 may cause many other problem also.

Answer 9

Carbon dioxide occurs naturally in the atmosphere as part of the carbon cycle, moving in and out of the land, oceans and atmosphere.