The Rising CO2 Dilemma: A Threat to Our Blood Chemistry?
A recent study has uncovered a startling revelation: the ever-increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere are not only detectable but also measurable in the blood of humans. This finding raises concerns about the potential impact on our health and the delicate balance of our blood chemistry.
Over two decades of health data from a US population database have revealed shifts in blood chemistry that align with increased CO2 exposure. While these changes are not yet cause for alarm, the trend is concerning. According to the researchers' projections, if the current trajectory persists, some blood chemistry values could reach the upper limit of the accepted healthy range by the year 2076.
Alexander Larcombe, a respiratory physiologist from Curtin University in Australia, explains, "We're witnessing a gradual shift in blood chemistry that mirrors the rise in atmospheric CO2, which is driving climate change."
The study's findings are particularly intriguing because they suggest that our bodies may not be adapting to the rising CO2 levels as effectively as once thought. Larcombe and his colleague, Phil Bierwirth, a retired geoscientist from the Australian National University, propose that bicarbonate, a compound formed from CO2 in the blood, could serve as a tracer for atmospheric CO2 levels.
They analyzed blood chemistry data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which collected samples from approximately 7,000 Americans every two years between 1999 and 2020. The results were striking: the average blood concentration of bicarbonate increased by about 7%, or 0.34% annually, during this period, mirroring the rise in CO2.
Interestingly, calcium and phosphorus levels in the cohort showed an opposite trend, with calcium decreasing by 2% and phosphorus by 7%. This may be linked to the fact that dissolved CO2 in the bloodstream disrupts the body's acid-base balance, prompting the kidneys to conserve bicarbonate to maintain blood pH within a healthy range. Bones also play a role by buffering acid through mineral exchanges involving calcium and phosphorus.
Despite the current small shifts in blood chemistry, the parallel rise in CO2 levels is alarming. If the researchers' predictions are accurate, we may witness physiological changes at the population level over time. Bierwirth notes, "It appears we are adapted to a range of CO2 in the air that may now have been surpassed."
The research, published in Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, highlights the urgent need to address rising CO2 levels and their potential consequences on human health. As CO2 continues to rise, it may be crucial to limit atmospheric levels to prevent further disruptions to our blood chemistry and overall well-being.
