captnemo wrote:We've had quite a few discussions on CO2 levels on this forum before but new tech may make this worth revisiting. If you can find a meter that is inexpensive and can reliably detect elevated CO2 levels then I'd say use it, but the lighter test has proved reliable for many cavers for a long time so I wouldn't discount it.
Here's one of the previous threads(there's been many) http://forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10918&p=131808&hilit=breath#p131808
Here's a great paper on the subject Naked Flame Test for, and Human Tolerance to, Foul Air in CavesThe best advice is, “If in doubt, get out”, in an orderly manner.
and here's a paper to emphasize that co2 is a health risk that should not be underestimated.
http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wy/information/NEPA/cfodocs/howell.Par.2800.File.dat/25apxC.pdf
Thanks for the paper, I'm already reading it
What tempted me was the relatively low price and list of gases it'd detect without the added open flame risk.