carbon dioxide poisoning, a condition of toxic effects caused by inhaling excessive amounts of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a respiratory stimulant, but it is also an asphyxiant. High concentrations can cause unconsciousness and death from ventilatory failure. Particularly vulnerable are persons who work in confined spaces with poor air circulation, such as mine shafts, silos, or holds of ships. Faulty home furnaces also have been implicated in many deaths. See also carbon dioxide (CO2) narcosis.
