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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Atmospheric CO2 Rise Linked to Surprising Blood Chemistry Changes, Study Finds

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Scientists have identified chemical changes in human blood that correlate with rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
  • Analysis of US health data from 1999-2020 shows increased serum bicarbonate and decreased calcium and phosphorus levels as CO2 rose.
  • Researchers suggest these shifts may represent the human body's adaptation to atmospheric changes, with potential long-term physiological effects.

Rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere may be altering human blood chemistry, according to new research from Australian institutions. Scientists observed significant changes in blood indicators among thousands of Americans over two decades, coinciding with an increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations.

The study, published in Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health, examined data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2020. Researchers found that average serum bicarbonate levels increased by 7 percent, while average calcium and phosphorus levels decreased. These trends align with the rise in atmospheric CO2 from around 369 parts per million in 2000 to over 420 ppm today.

What we are seeing is a gradual shift in blood chemistry that mirrors the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is driving climate change.

— Alexander LarcombeProfessor Alexander Larcombe, a lead researcher, explaining the study's findings on the correlation between atmospheric CO2 and blood chemistry.

Professor Alexander Larcombe, a lead researcher, stated that the findings suggest the human body might be adjusting to the changing atmosphere. "What we are seeing is a gradual shift in blood chemistry that mirrors the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is driving climate change," Larcombe explained.

Bicarbonate plays a crucial role in maintaining the body's acid-base balance. As CO2 levels rise, the body retains more bicarbonate to keep blood pH stable. While this response helps maintain equilibrium, prolonged adaptation could lead to physiological consequences. Larcombe noted that if current trends continue, modeling predicts average bicarbonate levels could approach the upper limit of the healthy range within 50 years, with calcium and phosphorus potentially reaching their lower healthy limits by the end of the century.

If the current trends continue, modeling shows that average bicarbonate levels could approach the upper limit of the currently accepted healthy range within 50 years, calcium and phosphorus levels could also reach their lower healthy range by the end of the century.

— Alexander LarcombeProfessor Alexander Larcombe discussing the potential long-term physiological effects of sustained adaptation to higher atmospheric CO2.
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Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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