CO2 From Termites

Significance

• Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas most often associated with car exhaust and other industrial pollution. Scientists have also discovered several natural sources of carbon dioxide, including the digestive processes of termites.

Creation

• When termites eat wood there are several byproducts created as a result. Along with carbon quadroxide, a potential pollutant, they also create significant levels of carbon dioxide. This is a natural process, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not consider it a pollutant risk.

Considerations

• There are many natural occurring causes of carbon dioxide, such as fermentation of baker's yeast and termites. There is little that can be done to curb this type of CO2 production, and the government instead is focusing on unnatural production, most notably industrial emissions.