Khaberni - A new study has revealed a relationship between the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and changes in the human body.
Humanity has lived for centuries in an atmosphere where carbon dioxide concentrations ranged between 200 and 300 parts per million, and today this indicator has surpassed the 420 parts per million barrier, the highest level ever in human history. It is known that an increase in carbon dioxide leads to an increase in the planet's temperature, but could it also change our body chemistry without us noticing?
Has the level of bicarbonate risen?
In a new study based on medical data, scientists attempted to answer this question. They analyzed the biochemical indicators in the blood of participants in the largest American health study, NHANES, which examined about 7,000 residents of the United States every two years from 1999 to 2020. The researchers focused on three key markers: forms associated with CO₂, especially bicarbonate, calcium, and phosphorus.
When carbon dioxide enters the blood, it converts into bicarbonate, the primary method for its transport. This process is accompanied by the release of hydrogen ions, making the blood more acidic in short-term exposure, so the body responds by slightly increasing bicarbonate to balance this change.
In the case of chronic exposure, the kidneys intervene, retaining more bicarbonate and producing more of it, leading to a steady rise in its level in the blood. Calcium and phosphorus also participate in regulating the acid-base balance, and their concentrations may change as well.
The researchers discovered that over 21 years, the average level of bicarbonate in the blood of participants increased by about 7% in conjunction with the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, while calcium decreased by 2% and phosphorus by 7%. If this trend continues, bicarbonate may exceed the upper normal limit in half a century, and calcium and phosphorus may fall below the minimum limit by the end of the century.
Why has carbon dioxide increased?
The researchers suggest that carbon dioxide itself may be responsible for these shifts, but the study did not take into account diet, kidney function, medication intake, or weight, all of which are factors that affect blood chemistry.
Another important factor is the quality of indoor air. Participants spend most of their time indoors, where carbon dioxide concentrations often exceed 1000 parts per million, especially in poorly ventilated situations. Over the past two decades, people have spent less time outdoors, which may increase stress on the body faster than atmospheric statistics indicate.
The authors confirm that their findings do not mean that humanity is on the verge of becoming collectively ill from breathing, but they reveal a gap that cannot be ignored. If atmospheric CO₂ can affect blood chemistry at the population level, then monitoring its concentration should be part of public health concern, not just as a climate indicator. Reducing emissions becomes important not only to curb global warming but also to protect our bodies.
