Can carbon dioxide detectors be used as a means to indirectly measure nitrogen dioxide?
A. In 1992 the U.S. Bureau of Mines produced a study correlating the concentrations of carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide gasses produced by a diesel engine. The study concluded that once tuned and characterized using direct measurements, the concentration of carbon dioxide could be used to indirectly determine the level of nitrogen dioxide. This correlation, however, was valid only for that specific engine in a closed system with fixed operating parameters. This assumption would not be valid in an open environment or with the presence of multiple engines. Brasch strongly recommends that if a nitrogen dioxide source is present, the concentration of this gas be measured with a nitrogen dioxide sensor in order to obtain proper ventilation control.
