A carbon dioxide contaminant monitoring system, comprising: a contaminant sensor module comprising an interferometer configured to create an interference pattern based on the presence of contaminants; a source of carbon dioxide; a delivery system for supplying the carbon dioxide to the interferometer, the delivery system comprising a carbon dioxide intake port connected to the source of carbon dioxide, a filtered path in communication with the carbon dioxide intake port which comprises a contaminant filter configured to remove contaminant from carbon dioxide passing there through, an unfiltered path in communication with the carbon dioxide intake port which bypasses the contaminant filter, a temperature sensor and a temperature controlling mechanism in communication with the filtered path and the unfiltered path to regulate temperatures of the carbon dioxide passing through the filtered path and the unfiltered path, and a selector valve in communication with the filtered path and the unfiltered path which selects either the filtered path or the unfiltered path to be in fluid communication with the interferometer; and a gas controller module to control the flow of carbon dioxide gas from the delivery system. a contaminant sensor module comprising an interferometer configured to create an interference pattern based on the presence of contaminants; a source of carbon dioxide; a delivery system for supplying the carbon dioxide to the interferometer, the delivery system comprising a carbon dioxide intake port connected to the source of carbon dioxide, a filtered path in communication with the carbon dioxide intake port which comprises a contaminant filter configured to remove contaminant from carbon dioxide passing there through, an unfiltered path in communication with the carbon dioxide intake port which bypasses the contaminant filter, a temperature sensor and a temperature controlling mechanism in communication with the filtered path and the unfiltered path to regulate temperatures of the carbon dioxide passing through the filtered path and the unfiltered path, and a selector valve in communication with the filtered path and the unfiltered path which selects either the filtered path or the unfiltered path to be in fluid communication with the interferometer; and a carbon dioxide intake port connected to the source of carbon dioxide, a filtered path in communication with the carbon dioxide intake port which comprises a contaminant filter configured to remove contaminant from carbon dioxide passing there through, an unfiltered path in communication with the carbon dioxide intake port which bypasses the contaminant filter, a temperature sensor and a temperature controlling mechanism in communication with the filtered path and the unfiltered path to regulate temperatures of the carbon dioxide passing through the filtered path and the unfiltered path, and a selector valve in communication with the filtered path and the unfiltered path which selects either the filtered path or the unfiltered path to be in fluid communication with the interferometer; and a gas controller module to control the flow of carbon dioxide gas from the delivery system. <EOS>