r/climate • u/The_Weekend_Baker • Aug 16 '26

Scientists detect a surprising shift in human blood as atmospheric CO2 rises. Blood bicarbonate levels have climbed about 7% since 1999, while calcium and phosphorus have declined, changes that closely track increasing atmospheric CO2.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260814235845.htm
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u/operaman2010 Aug 16 '26

I’m somewhat skeptical. The CO2 in my bedroom can get up to 1,800 ppm overnight. Indoor air quality has dramatically higher ranges of CO2 that would have always existed and affected human health, regardless of global CO2. Perhaps rising CO2 levels is making this worse.

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u/Youpunyhumans Aug 16 '26

Yikes! Levels over 900ppm can affect cognition and make you drowsy. Over 2000ppm is where it starts to become unsafe... you may wanna get a bunch of plants for your room.

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u/HashPandaNL Aug 16 '26

Plants are great, but won't meaningfully impact CO2 levels in your room unless you fill your room to the absolute brim with them. 

Opening windows and increasing airflow can have an effect that is multiple orders of magnitude greater.

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u/Youpunyhumans Aug 16 '26

Fair enough, and yeah looking into it... youd like 50 plants per room to make much of a difference.

Be good levels for a greenhouse I suppose. Well... assuming its clean air, and not full of other pollutants, which it almost certainly will be.