Table 3.
Significant toxicity of inhaled carbon dioxide at low levels in animal studies.
| Experimental study, species |
Toxic CO2-level (Vol%) [exposure duration] |
Significant Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
FDA Technical Reports 1979 [106] guinea pigs |
0.48 % Exposure to pregnant [10 min over 20 days each] |
Stillbirth and birth defects (67.5%) |
|
Howard 2012 [58] rats |
3% resp. 0.8 %* Exposure to pregnant [chronically] |
Stillbirth and birth defects (p < 0.01) |
|
Kiray 2014 [108] rats |
0.3 % Exposure to unborn (pregnant) [chronically] |
Neuron destruction in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, decreased IGF-1 levels, increased anxiety after birth, impaired memory and learning (p < 0.05) |
|
Uysal 2014 [113] mice |
0.3 % Exposure to adolescent [chronically] |
Neuron destruction in gyrus dentatus and the prefrontal cortex, decreased IGF-1 levels, less activity, increased anxiety, impaired learning and memory (p < 0.05) |
|
Vandemark 1972 [114] rats |
2.5 % resp. 0.5 %* Exposure to male [4 hours] |
Destruction of spermatid and Sertoli cells in testes, streaking & vacuolization of the tubular components, no maturation of spermatids (histopathological proof) |