What air contaminant is increasingly recognized as a benchmark for indoor air quality?

Carbon dioxide is increasingly recognized as a benchmark for indoor air quality due to its correlation with human occupancy and activity levels within a space. When people are present in an enclosed environment, the levels of carbon dioxide naturally increase as a result of respiration. Consequently, monitoring carbon dioxide levels can provide significant insights into ventilation adequacy and overall indoor air quality.

High concentrations of carbon dioxide can indicate insufficient ventilation, which may contribute to discomfort, cognitive impairment, and decreased productivity among occupants. Maintaining optimal carbon dioxide levels is essential in ensuring a healthy indoor environment.

While other air contaminants, such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds, are also important factors in assessing air quality, they do not serve as as direct indicators of human activity and ventilation as effectively as carbon dioxide. Therefore, measuring carbon dioxide is a practical approach to evaluating and managing indoor air quality.