Is Carbon Dioxide safe when breathed in?
Air & aerosols2 uses researched9 sourced claims
Where it turns up: complete combustion from various sources. Detox My Life researched carbon dioxide under 2 different uses, because the same substance means something different in each. Every claim below carries its evidence tier, how sure the research is that it applies here, and the sources it cites. The level is computed by the app's own deterministic engine, so the page says exactly what the app would.
Level by use and lens
| Use | Mainstream | Cautious (default) | Based | Concerns · favour · fringe |
|---|
| Breathed in | Swap | Swap | Swap | 6 · 0 |
| In indoor air | Watch | Watch | Watch | 3 · 0 |
Mainstream shows consensus claims only; Cautious adds emerging research; Based adds fringe claims, labelled as such. The last column counts, under Cautious, the sourced concerns, the findings in its favour and the fringe claims Based would add.
Safer swaps: the app's swap catalog has no entry tied to this ingredient yet. When you scan a product that contains it, the app suggests cleaner alternative types for that product; the swap categories list what the catalog covers today.
Breathed in Swap
Under the default Cautious lens carbon dioxide when breathed in rates Swap: the app would put this near the top of your swap plan. Mainstream (consensus only) rates it Swap; Based (adds the fringe) rates it Swap. Researched 2026-09-03.
Sourced concerns (6)
ConsensusMetabolicconfidence 100%
Inhalation of carbon dioxide at concentrations of 5,000 ppm (0.5%) as an 8-hour time-weighted average can lead to measurable performance drops, shifts in blood pH, increased breathing rate, and drowsiness.
- Why here
- The ingredient is carbon dioxide, and the use is inhalation, directly exposing the respiratory and circulatory systems to the gas.
- What would have to be true
- Inhalation of carbon dioxide at 5,000 ppm (0.5%) over an 8-hour period.
Sources the engine cites:
ConsensusMetabolicconfidence 100%
Acute inhalation of carbon dioxide at concentrations between 10,000 ppm and 30,000 ppm can cause rapid breathing, headaches, increased heart rate, confusion, dizziness, nausea, and impaired consciousness.
- Why here
- The ingredient is carbon dioxide, and the use is inhalation, directly exposing the respiratory and circulatory systems to the gas.
- What would have to be true
- Inhalation of carbon dioxide at 10,000 ppm to 30,000 ppm for short durations (e.g., 15 minutes for 30,000 ppm).
Sources the engine cites:
ConsensusMetabolicconfidence 100%
Exposure to carbon dioxide at concentrations above 40,000 ppm (4%) is immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) and can lead to loss of consciousness, convulsions, coma, and death due to asphyxiation.
- Why here
- The ingredient is carbon dioxide, and the use is inhalation, directly exposing the respiratory and circulatory systems to the gas.
- What would have to be true
- Inhalation of carbon dioxide at concentrations exceeding 40,000 ppm (4%).
Sources the engine cites:
EmergingMetabolicconfidence 90%
Mild cognitive impairment and drowsiness can begin with carbon dioxide inhalation at concentrations between 1,000 and 2,500 ppm, which is below regulatory occupational exposure limits.
- Why here
- The ingredient is carbon dioxide, and the use is inhalation, directly affecting cognitive function.
- What would have to be true
- Inhalation of carbon dioxide at concentrations between 1,000 ppm and 2,500 ppm.
Sources the engine cites (no regulator, review or study among them):
- 4 web articles (atmotube.com, pksafety.com, co2meter.com, …), linked in the app.
EmergingMetabolicconfidence 90%
Inhalation of carbon dioxide at concentrations of 7-7.5% (70,000-75,000 ppm) or a single deep inhalation of 35% CO2 can reliably induce intense anxiety, a sensation of 'air hunger,' and somatic symptoms including tachycardia and chest discomfort.
- Why here
- The ingredient is carbon dioxide, and the use is inhalation, directly affecting the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
- What would have to be true
- Acute inhalation of carbon dioxide at high concentrations (7-7.5% for several minutes or 35% for a single deep breath).
Sources the engine cites:
EmergingIrritant · allergenconfidence 80%
Inhalation of carbon dioxide at concentrations above 1,000 ppm in indoor environments is correlated with increased respiratory irritation and symptoms such as coughing.
- Why here
- The ingredient is carbon dioxide, and the use is inhalation, directly affecting the respiratory system.
- What would have to be true
- Inhalation of carbon dioxide at concentrations above 1,000 ppm in indoor settings.
Sources the engine cites:
In indoor air Watch
Under the default Cautious lens carbon dioxide in indoor air rates Watch: worth watching; the app would list a cleaner alternative type. Mainstream (consensus only) rates it Watch; Based (adds the fringe) rates it Watch. Researched 2026-09-03.
Sourced concerns (3)
ConsensusMetabolicconfidence 90%
Elevated indoor carbon dioxide concentrations are associated with decreased cognitive performance, reduced productivity, difficulty concentrating, and impaired decision-making.
- Why here
- Carbon dioxide is exhaled by occupants and accumulates in poorly ventilated indoor spaces, directly impacting the air breathed by individuals.
- What would have to be true
- Above 800-1,000 ppm, with studies showing moderate decreases in performance at 1,000 ppm and more substantial decreases at 2,500 ppm.
Sources the engine cites:
ConsensusIrritant · allergenconfidence 90%
High indoor carbon dioxide levels can cause acute health symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, and irritation of mucous membranes (eyes, nose, throat).
- Why here
- Carbon dioxide builds up in indoor air due to human respiration and insufficient ventilation, leading to direct inhalation by occupants.
- What would have to be true
- Above 1,000 ppm for general symptoms, and above 5,000 ppm for more severe symptoms like sweating, increased heart rate, and breathing difficulties. Exposure to levels above 5,000 ppm for many hours can cause headache, dizziness, and nausea.
Sources the engine cites:
ConsensusMetabolicconfidence 90%
Extremely high concentrations of carbon dioxide in indoor air can act as an asphyxiant, leading to unconsciousness, coma, or death.
- Why here
- In enclosed indoor spaces with very poor ventilation or specific sources (e.g., industrial accidents, faulty combustion), CO2 can displace oxygen, leading to asphyxiation.
- What would have to be true
- Concentrations of 10% (100,000 ppm) or more can produce unconsciousness or death. Levels around 40,000 ppm are considered immediately dangerous to life and health.
Sources the engine cites:
Not researched here
The engine has no dossier for carbon dioxide when cooked with heat, in cold food, as a finishing ingredient, in heated food packaging or other uses. The app researches an ingredient for the use it infers from your product, so a scan fills these in; this page only shows what has already been researched and source-verified.
This is research, not medical advice. Detox My Life shows sourced claims sorted by evidence tier. It does not diagnose, treat, or tell you to start or stop anything. Talk to a qualified professional about your health.
Scan your own. The app reads any product label with your camera, works out how you are about to use it, and researches every ingredient for that use with live sources. Every scan adds to a Detox Score for your home, where 50 is a typical home in your region, and a plan of next swaps.
See also: all ingredients · paste a label to check it · how to read an ingredient flag
