High concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) were linked to a decrease in pilot performance in a simulator study that assessed the likelihood of flying an acceptable maneuver in atmospheres containing varying concentrations of CO2.
In a report published last week in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, researchers said that, knowing that higher-than-typical concentrations of CO2 adversely affect the cognitive function performance of office workers, they sought to determine whether pilots’ functioning would be similarly affected.
The report cited earlier research that suggested that CO2 levels previously thought to be safe (from 1,000 to 2,500 parts per million [ppm]) resulted in problems in office workers’ performance. CO2 concentrations on the flight desk typically are less than 1,000 ppm but sometimes range as high as 1,400 ppm, the report said.
