answersLogoWhite

0

Carbon Dioxide is a very minor part of our atmosphere... It has varied between about 0.03% and 0.04%, or about 300 to 400 parts per million, with the increase over the last 50 years being approximately 0.01%.

Toxicity levels are much higher. The US OSHA recommends levels less than 0.5%, or about 10 times current levels, but the human body can tolerate with mild discomfort levels up to about 2% with mild discomfort, and long term adaptation... or about 50 times the current levels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide#Toxicity

According to estimates, carbon dioxide levels naturally have varied by about 0.01% or 100ppm in cycles... but we are currently at the highest level in 400,000 years.
See Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_in_Earth's_atmosphere


However, estimates of carbon dioxide levels in the distant past indicate that the levels may have been much higher 100 to 300 million years ago, when Dinosaurs roamed the planet. These levels would have been approximately 1000 to 2000 PPM, or the range of 1% to 2%, and perhaps even higher 400 million years ago.
See the additional chart from the above Wikipedia article.


This doesn't mean the consequences of such extreme increases in carbon dioxide might not be traumatic for the world as we know it.

The above images were distributed by Wikipedia in the links above, and are in the Public Domain.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

Why is it dangerous to keep increasing the amount of CO2 in atmosphere?

We won't asphyxiate. But CO2 is a heat trapping gas, and it takes decades for the earth to adjust to any slight rise. Human activity has increased CO2 levels from 280 ppm prior to the industrial revolution to nearly 400 ppm today. We will pass 500 ppm before 2050, at the current rate. Many climate scientists believe 350 ppm may be the maximum sustainable level for CO2.


Is CO2 good?

If you mean CO2--carbon dioxide--it is a natural part of Earth's environment. We can not breath it, but plants need it to survive. It can be used to extinguish fires. However, the increasing amount of CO2 in the admosphere (mostly from burning coal and petroleum products) is causing a problem of climate change.


Will life exist on earth without CO2?

CO2 is required to support all plant life. Plant life creates Oxygen, and most life forms cannot survive without Oxygen. Therefore there is a mutually dependent relationship between the 2. No CO2 leads to no O2, and all life on Earth dies. So, no.


What gas is both harmful and beneficial to life on Earth?

Ozone is a gas that can be both harmful and beneficial to life on Earth. In the upper atmosphere, ozone helps protect life on Earth by blocking harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. However, at ground level, ozone can be harmful to human health, causing respiratory issues and contributing to air pollution.


Which gas makes up 036 of earth's atmosphere?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) makes up approximately 0.04% of Earth's atmosphere.

Related Questions

Can talking pollute the earth?

No, because the trees need the CO2 which we breathe out when we talk to survive, so they take in the CO2 so it doesn't pollute the earth.


What is the maximum CO2 tolerance level for humans in a closed environment?

The maximum CO2 tolerance level for humans in a closed environment is around 0.5 to 1 before it starts to become harmful and affect cognitive function and overall health.


If CO2 was not on earth what will earth be like?

If there was no Carbon Dioxide on Earth it would be very different then what it is now. Firstly plants need CO2 for photosynthesis, without CO2 plants could not complete photosynthesis and would die of starvation (photosynthesis is a plants way of making food). Secondly CO2 is a gas that keeps the Earth's temperature at the correct level, without CO2 the Earth would be much colder and therefor unable to support life.


Why is it dangerous to keep increasing the amount of CO2 in atmosphere?

We won't asphyxiate. But CO2 is a heat trapping gas, and it takes decades for the earth to adjust to any slight rise. Human activity has increased CO2 levels from 280 ppm prior to the industrial revolution to nearly 400 ppm today. We will pass 500 ppm before 2050, at the current rate. Many climate scientists believe 350 ppm may be the maximum sustainable level for CO2.


How earth is a living planet?

As earth supports life,we consider it as living planet,But there are many components on earth which supports life i.e water,atmosphere,temperarure......Its distance from sun provide it proper temperature that suits life....that temperature is such that liquid like water can exist & living beings can survive


Is CO2 good?

If you mean CO2--carbon dioxide--it is a natural part of Earth's environment. We can not breath it, but plants need it to survive. It can be used to extinguish fires. However, the increasing amount of CO2 in the admosphere (mostly from burning coal and petroleum products) is causing a problem of climate change.


Does the presence of CO2 in a solution raise or lower the pH level?

The presence of CO2 in a solution lowers the pH level.


CO2 makes up what percentage of atmosphere?

CO2 makes up approximately 0.03% of Earth's atmosphere


Does the level of CO2 in the atmosphere rise or fall over time?

The level of CO2 in the atmosphere has been rising over time.


Does the level of CO2 rise or fall in a room?

The level of CO2 typically rises in a room as people exhale carbon dioxide.


How can earth have life on it but the other planets do not?

Because, Earth is at a right distance from the size of our sun which where water could exist and our atmoshpehere with many gases and not just CO2. Mars could sustain life but need to reduce the level of co2 in its atmosphere to sustain fresh, liquid water.


Will life exist on earth without CO2?

CO2 is required to support all plant life. Plant life creates Oxygen, and most life forms cannot survive without Oxygen. Therefore there is a mutually dependent relationship between the 2. No CO2 leads to no O2, and all life on Earth dies. So, no.