The Rising Threat of CO2: A Study on Human Blood Chemistry
A groundbreaking study reveals a concerning trend: the increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere are now detectable in the blood of humans. This research, spanning two decades of health data from a US population database, has uncovered shifts in blood chemistry that mirror the rise in atmospheric CO2, a primary driver of climate change.
While the current levels are not yet dangerous, the study's findings are alarming. According to the researchers' modeling, if the trend persists, some blood chemistry values could approach the limit of today's accepted healthy range by 2076. This could have significant implications for human health.
Alexander Larcombe, a respiratory physiologist at Curtin University in Australia, explains, 'What we're seeing is a gradual shift in blood chemistry that mirrors the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is driving climate change.'
The study highlights a delicate balance in the human body. CO2 in the air is converted into bicarbonate in the blood, which helps maintain healthy pH levels. However, the researchers theorize that bicarbonate could also act as a tracer of atmospheric CO2 levels. By examining blood chemistry data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, they found a 7% increase in average blood bicarbonate levels over two decades, paralleling the rise in CO2.
Interestingly, calcium and phosphorus levels showed an opposite trend, dropping by 2% and 7%, respectively. This may be related to the body's acid-base balance, as CO2 dissolves in the bloodstream, altering it. The kidneys conserve bicarbonate to maintain pH, and bones can buffer acid by exchanging minerals.
Despite the current shifts being within the body's tolerable range, the parallel rise is striking. Larcombe and his colleague, Phil Bierwirth, suggest that the body may not be adapting to the increasing CO2 levels. This could lead to physiological changes at the population level over time.
Bierwirth states, 'The normal range maintains a delicate balance between CO2 levels, blood pH, breathing rate, and bicarbonate levels. As CO2 levels surpass those humans have ever experienced, it appears to be accumulating in our bodies. Limiting atmospheric CO2 levels is crucial to prevent potential health impacts.'
The research, published in Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, emphasizes the need to address rising CO2 levels to safeguard human health and the environment.
