Room AC filters & chills the room air. Isnt it dangerous as it does not filter out carbon di oxide?

Question

What happens to carbon di oxide and carbon mono oxide?

Answer 1

You are correct in that an AC will not filter out gasses such as CO and CO2. The filtration is only particulate such as dust and pollen.

Even though we place these AC units into seemingly sealed rooms and building we don't smother ourselves because:

1.) Supplemental air from out side is drawn in by the AC unit and mixed with the room air. Small window units have a vent option to allow even more outside air to be drawn in. Larger centralized systems in buildings have a make up air intake where a percentage of the air from the building is exchanged with fresh air from outside.

2.) Infiltration of outside air. There is an exchange of air between the inside and outside air because the building/room construction is not air tight.

Answer 2

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced by your body as part of the breathing process. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced by incomplete combustion, that is burning in an atmosphere with limited Oxygen. The atmosphere of the planet is approximately 71% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% Argon, 1% water vapor and 1/3% CO2. CO2 is used by plants to produce sugars through the process known as photosynthesis. CO generally goes up the smokestack with other combustion products. CO isn't normally a problem except during heating season when buildings are closed up.

Carbon dioxide isn't dangerous unless the concentration builds up and it displaces the oxygen in the space you're in. CO2 is heavier than air, so it could possibly build up in a closely built space and displace the Oxygen. Highly unlikely except in watertight or airtight tanks.

Answer 3

No. If the air in the room was pure oxygen it would be explosive.