About the dangers of carbon dioxide CO2

Everyone knows that plants have the ability to produce large amounts of oxygen during photosynthesis, and in return absorb carbon dioxide. It is a product of air exchange of all living things on earth, including plants. In addition, it is widely used in various areas of life, and also accumulates in tightly closed rooms, which creates the danger of inhaling doses harmful to health. High concentrations of this substance cause carbon dioxide poisoning.

Pre-medical measures

Providing timely assistance to the victim will alleviate the consequences of poisoning and even save lives.

If possible, eliminate the source of gas or evacuate the person from the area where gas accumulation exceeds the norm.
Call an ambulance immediately.
The victim should lie down and be completely at rest until the doctor arrives.
Apply a hot heating pad to the patient's feet.
Remove obstacles that interfere with breathing (clothing).
Ensure constant access of oxygen to the victim.
If necessary, perform indirect cardiac massage and artificial respiration.
If necessary, provide access to analgesics and cardiac medications.

When entering an unconscious state, a person is placed on his side so that in case of vomiting he does not choke.
Along the way, it is imperative to monitor the heart rate and breathing and under no circumstances leave the patient alone.

Mild poisoning

Hyperemia of the skin of the face and neck.
General lethargy of the body.
Infrequent vomiting.
Failure to coordinate movements.
Impaired concentration.
Changes in blood pressure.
Drowsiness.
Disturbances in the functioning of the respiratory system, oxygen starvation occurs.
Severe painful spasms in the head area.
Increased body temperature.
Increased sweating.
Increased salivation.
Sore throat and sore throat.
Dry, persistent cough.

Severe poisoning

Changes in the size of the pupils of the eyes.
The appearance of seizures and convulsions.
A sharp drop in body temperature.
Fall in blood pressure.
Obvious breathing problems.
Development of bradycardia and heart attack.
Acute renal and cardiovascular failure.
State of coma.
Paralysis of the respiratory system.

A possible result of severe poisoning, if first aid is not provided, is death due to asphyxia.

Atypical forms

There are two of them - fainting and euphoric.

Symptoms of fainting:

pallor of the skin and mucous membranes;
decreased blood pressure;
loss of consciousness.

Symptoms of the euphoric form:

psychomotor agitation;
mental dysfunction: delirium, hallucinations, laughter, strange behavior;
loss of consciousness;
respiratory and heart failure.

Benzene food poisoning

Benzene is a widely used raw material in industry for the production of synthetic and plastic products and pharmaceuticals. It is highly toxic; if it enters the human body, it can cause the development of cancer pathologies.

Food poisoning with benzene is most often observed in drug addicts. By inhaling concentrated vapors of a toxic substance, people with a dangerous addiction experience auditory and visual hallucinations and euphoria.

In addition, chemical reactions that occur during the coking of coal or the production of gasoline (rubber, plastics, paints and varnishes) can become a source of poisoning. Chronic damage develops in people involved in cleaning tanks from petroleum product residues.

In mild forms of poisoning, the following are observed:

severe weakness;
increased excitability, irritability;
nausea and vomiting.

Severe lesions lead to death.

How can you get poisoned by carbon dioxide?

A small amount of carbon dioxide is always present in the ambient air. The concentration safe for humans in the natural environment is 0.03-0.2%. However, there are certain conditions under which CO2 levels may be elevated:

In the premises of ozokerite and coal mines. There it is allowed to increase the CO2 content to a level of 0.5%. If the level increases and oxygen levels decrease, poisoning is inevitable.
In other industrial premises - inside saturation boilers at sugar factories, inspection wells of sewer and water supply networks, fermentation departments of breweries. Employees of such enterprises are more likely than others to be exposed to intoxication.
With frequent contact with “dry ice” in connection with professional activities.
In case of violation of technology during the installation of air exchange systems in submarines, subway premises, at underwater oceanographic stations, in divers' equipment.
In rarely ventilated areas with a large number of people (for example, in school classrooms or stuffy offices, especially with plastic frames on the windows), a mild degree of poisoning may occur.

A high dose of CO2 damages the respiratory system, but can also irritate mucous membranes and skin (for example, touching dry ice can cause a serious burn).

Signs of acute poisoning may vary depending on the degree of intoxication and the concentration of carbon dioxide.

Prevention

If a person knows what to do in case of carbon monoxide poisoning, he must understand the full danger of the situation, which is easier to prevent than to engage in long-term rehabilitation:

monitor the serviceability of ventilation systems in the home and garage,
in production, when working in gas-filled conditions, use special respirators,
do not leave a running car in a garage or repair shop,
Operate only serviceable heating devices (boilers, water heaters).

If you have to work in a dangerous situation, doctors recommend pre-administering a dose of the antidote Acizol. In case of intoxication, this will help save lives and prevent fatal intoxication.

Severity

Degrees and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

(Infographics are available via the download button after the article)

Mild severity is characterized by the following symptoms:

general weakness;
headaches, mainly in the frontal and temporal regions;
knocking in the temples;
noise in ears;
dizziness;

visual impairment – flickering, dots before the eyes;
unproductive, i.e. dry cough;
rapid breathing;
lack of air, shortness of breath;
lacrimation;
nausea;
hyperemia (redness) of the skin and mucous membranes;
tachycardia;
increased blood pressure.

Symptoms of moderate severity are the preservation of all the symptoms of the previous stage and their more severe form:

fogginess, possible loss of consciousness for a short time;
vomit;
hallucinations, both visual and auditory;
violation of the vestibular apparatus, uncoordinated movements;
pressing chest pain.

Severe poisoning is characterized by the following symptoms:

paralysis;
long-term loss of consciousness, coma;
convulsions;
dilated pupils;
involuntary emptying of the bladder and bowels;
increased heart rate up to 130 beats per minute, but it is faintly palpable;
cyanosis (blue discoloration) of the skin and mucous membranes;
breathing problems – it becomes shallow and intermittent.

First aid for carbon dioxide poisoning

First aid for CO2 poisoning comes down to one and the most important action - ensuring normal breathing of the victim, since only a doctor can carry out full measures aimed at restoring the proper functioning of the entire body in a hospital setting.

Algorithm of urgent actions in case of CO2 damage:

Evacuation of victims from a contaminated environment, including raising divers and submariners to the surface of a reservoir.
Notifying medical services, the Ministry of Emergency Situations or other organizations that can help.
Elimination of all possible obstacles to breathing - tight clothing, wetsuit, diving or work equipment.
Providing warmth and rest to the victim in a position that is comfortable for him.
If equipment is available, it is advisable to perform oxygen inhalations.
If there are existing diseases of the heart and blood vessels, give the victim the necessary medications.
In case of loss of consciousness and signs of a threat to life, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation and continue these activities until help arrives or normal life functions are restored.
If the victim is in satisfactory condition, it is advisable to still monitor breathing, pulse rate and clarity of consciousness, since deterioration can occur at any time.

Carefully! Before helping anyone with CO2 or other gas poisoning, you need to make sure you are safe. In the event of a threat, it is better to postpone rescue measures until professionals arrive and not create additional difficulties for medical services and the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

As part of self-help you cannot:

go down into basements, sewer passages, enter closed spaces with sprayed carbon dioxide without a gas mask;
without medical indications, give any medications, with the exception of cardiovascular drugs;
apply any traditional methods;
drink alcohol and carbonated drinks;
in case of loss of consciousness, slap the victim on the cheeks, try to revive him with cold water or other aggressive methods.

Important! If there is a threat to life or at least the slightest suspicion of this, and help is delayed, artificial respiration and chest compressions should be started immediately, even without the skills to perform it. There is always a chance to save a person’s life.

Chronic intoxication

There are three stages of chronic intoxication:

, characterized by increased excitation of the nervous system, which is replaced by mild retardation and decreased performance.

, in which the load on the respiratory center increases and metabolism slows down slightly. At the same time, physically the person feels normal and remains fully functional.

, manifested in the form of a sharp decrease in physical activity and performance, the appearance of dystonic reactions of the body - sweating, lacrimation, increased secretion of salivary fluid, changes in the skin.

Important! One or two weeks is not enough for the development and passage of all stages of chronic CO2 poisoning. Symptoms develop and change gradually over many months.

Notes

↑ 12
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0103.html
Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (English). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
A. S. Egorov. Chemistry tutor - Rostov-on-Don: “Phoenix”, 2009.
How much carbon dioxide do humans contribute through breathing?. Retrieved April 30, 2009. Archived February 2, 2011.
Charles Henrickson.
Chemistry. — Cliffs Notes, 2005. — ISBN 0-7645-7419-1.
↑ 1234
Converted from values in mm. rt. Art. using a conversion factor of 0.133322 kPa/mm. rt. Art.
↑ 12
Table of reference values. University of Dallas Southwestern Medical Center.
↑ 1 2 3 4
Carbon dioxide.
solarnavigator.net
. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
↑ 1 2 Glinka, Nikolaj Leonidovič (1882-1965).
Obŝaâ himiâ. —Izd. 27th ster. - Leningrad: “Himiâ”, 1988. - 702, [2] s. With. — ISBN 5724500035, 9785724500036.
Great Encyclopedia of Oil and Gas.
GOST 31371.6-2008 (ISO 6974-6:2002). Natural gas. DETERMINATION OF COMPOSITION BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH ASSESSMENT OF UNCERTAINTY. Part 6. DETERMINATION OF HYDROGEN, HELIUM, OXYGEN, NITROGEN, CARBON DIOXIDE AND HYDROCARBONS C1 - C8 USING THREE CAPILLARY COLUMNS.
A. V. Byalko. Plants grow faster. "Nature". No. 10, 1996. (according to Keeling CD, Whorf T.P., Wahlen M., van der Plicht J. // Nature. 1995. V. 375, No. 6533. P.666-670
)
(English) Carbon Dioxide as a Fire Suppressant: Examining the Risks, US Environmental Protection Agency:.
(English) Glatte Jr HA, Motsay GJ, Welch BE (1967). "Carbon Dioxide Tolerance Studies". Brooks AFB, TX School of Aerospace Medicine Technical Report SAM-TR-67-77
. Retrieved 2008-05-02.

Causes of CO2 poisoning

The vast majority of cases of acute and chronic poisoning with this gas occur in enterprises where production requires close contact with CO2.

Danger awaits people whose activities involve:

with metallurgy;
with the refrigeration industry;
with electric welding works;
with the production of sugar, soda, mineral water and beer drinks;
with chemical processes requiring the presence of CO2, for example, in the synthesis of urea;
using dry ice.

Often, carbon dioxide poisoning of people occurs in sewer manholes, coal mines, closed basements and other rooms with minimal ventilation. Another risk group that has a real chance of getting CO2 poisoning due to their activities is divers and people working with underwater equipment.

Most often, intoxication occurs when, for some reason, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the oxygen mixture increases, and only 5–25 minutes of intense breathing are needed to develop the most serious symptoms of stage 4. Poisoning can also occur in a pressure chamber due to various types of malfunctions.

Important! People engaged in scuba diving, and especially beginners, need to regularly check all equipment from specialists and not dive to depths without accompaniment.

In everyday life, carbon dioxide poisoning is quite rare, but no one is immune from force majeure situations in the house and outside their “fortress”. First aid instructions, photos and videos in this article will teach you how to act correctly if necessary, tell you about symptoms and risk factors.

Carbon dioxide and its applications

Carbon dioxide is the chemical compound carbon dioxide (CO2), which is an anhydride of carbonic acid. It is constantly present in the atmosphere within 0.03%; in the air exhaled by a person its concentration is about 4%.

As a result of the interaction of carbon dioxide with water, unstable carbonic acid is formed. Gas has the following characteristics:

It has almost no odor or color, under a certain pressure it can transform into a liquid state, and upon evaporation, turn into a snow-white mass, which, when pressed, forms the basis of the so-called “dry ice”.
It is not flammable (which is used in fire-fighting devices) and is able to dissolve in water under pressure (this is how carbonated drinks are made).

The diverse properties of CO2 have found application in metallurgy and the chemical industry, in refrigeration chambers, when extinguishing fires, and during welding work.

In high concentrations, the compound is toxic and can cause poisoning.

First aid

Proper provision of first aid to the victim is aimed at restoring full respiratory function, and should include:

evacuation of the victim, including removal from the water, lifting from the depths or from the mine to the surface;
immediately calling an ambulance or resuscitation team;
providing the victim with complete rest;
preventing tongue retraction;
warming the victim by applying a hot heating pad to the legs;
getting rid of clothing that interferes with breathing or compresses the neck and chest area;
ensuring the victim’s access to atmospheric air or oxygen;
performing, if necessary, artificial respiration and chest compressions;
if necessary, providing the victim with analgesics, as well as cardiac medications.

It is important to deliver the victim to a medical facility as quickly as possible, where qualified assistance will be provided and the full range of necessary equipment will be used.

Briefly about the substance CO₂

Is carbon dioxide harmful to humans? It is also called carbonic anhydride, carbon dioxide (not to be confused with carbon monoxide). The gas itself is colorless and has a slight acidic taste. Compared to air, carbonic anhydride is one and a half times heavier. The latter is contained in the atmosphere as an impurity, which is formed as a result of the combustion of fuel, the vital activity of living organisms, as well as the activity of volcanoes. Stable levels of CO₂ in the air are possible due to its absorption by vegetation and the ocean. However, you need to know that the concentration of the substance in the atmosphere tends to increase due to the active activity of people and their interference in nature.

To understand the dangers of carbon monoxide intoxication, you need to know what the effect of carbon dioxide is on the human body. Let us remember that it is present in the atmosphere and can enter the human body every day. But inhaling carbon dioxide is only safe at low, permissible dosages. If an excess of the substance enters the bloodstream, the process of binding hemoglobin, the main carrier of oxygen to tissues and cells, begins. In turn, oxygen deficiency provokes hypoxia or anoxemia. This is why carbon dioxide is dangerous for humans if it comes in excess. The condition caused by excessive CO₂ entering the blood is called hypercapnia.

How dangerous the effect of carbon dioxide on the body will be depends on:

duration of inhalation;
age of the victim;
competent and timely provision of pre-medical and medical care.

The rate of poisoning is directly affected by the concentration of the substance. When inhaling air with 3% carbon dioxide, a feeling of excitement occurs, then a decrease in performance. At values above 7-10%, immediate cessation of breathing and blood circulation occurs. This is why carbon dioxide in high concentrations is dangerous. It is most in demand in cylinders that are used for welding. If they are used incorrectly, the health consequences can also be dire.

Treatment of poisoning

Any therapeutic measures are primarily aimed at normalizing and stabilizing the functioning of all vital functions of the body. Afterwards, the body is rid of toxins using medication, the water-salt balance is normalized and the patient’s current condition is constantly monitored. Severe gas poisoning requires treatment of a person in intensive care, where he is connected to an artificial respiration apparatus. This is necessary in the absence of normal respiratory function.

The process of treatment and recovery depends on the severity of the disease, the health of the victim, and also largely on the competently prescribed treatment. After discharge from the hospital, the patient undergoes mandatory rehabilitation, which can last more than one month. After severe gas poisoning, complications may appear in the future that need to be identified and treated promptly. Take care of yourself and be healthy.

First actions

If there is every reason to suspect poisoning, you need to move the victim to fresh air. If a person is unconscious, it is necessary to lay him on his side, apply ice to the chest and forehead, and warm the soles of his feet. You need to prepare a weak vinegar-water solution or give the victim a glass of milk to drink.

The person should not be left alone until doctors arrive - constant monitoring of breathing and heartbeat is necessary. It is better to feel the pulse on the carotid artery. In case of cardiac arrest, artificial respiration and indirect massage must be urgently applied.