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CO2 in human blood is rising with the atmosphere
Boing Boing • • science
Key Points:
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen from about 300 ppm during most of human evolution to over 420 ppm today, increasing by more than 2 ppm annually.
- A new study analyzing U.S. health data from 1999 to 2020 found that average blood bicarbonate levels, which help carry CO2 out of the body, have increased by approximately 7%, closely tracking the rise in atmospheric CO2.
- Concurrently, levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood, minerals involved in acid-buffering processes, have decreased, with projections suggesting these changes could reach unhealthy levels by the end of the century.
- While the study establishes a correlational link rather than causation, the authors emphasize the significance of these findings given human physiology's adaptation to historically stable CO2 levels around 300 ppm.
