Carbon dioxide's direct impact on down-regulating the human species

Abstract

Much is said about carbon dioxide (CO2) affecting climate; rising global temperatures, rising sea levels, and stagnating ocean currents being often cited results. Less is said about what CO2 does directly to human physiology should anthropogenic trends not abate. Past mass extinctions have been correlated to airborne CO2 levels rapidly rising above 1000 ppm (Ward, 2007); a value that may be seen by the end of this century. This study proposes as humankind confronts climate changes brought on by rising atmospheric CO2 concentration, as levels rise over 1000 ppm humans may also be inundated by the direct effects of CO2. While this has already been proposed by others, this study goes on to introduce a straight forward model for helping quantify the impact of airborne CO2 on human physiology which shows the onset of hypercapnic bloodstream pH levels in humans begin to appear when atmospheric CO2 levels approach 3000 ppm. However, upon examination of data from past submarine studies, a physiological response may occur in humans at much lower atmospheric CO2 levels due to a slow buildup of CO2 in the body over time. A casual link between atmospheric CO2 levels and the calcium balance in the human body is established providing rationale for the possibility of a greater occurrence of vascular calcification and concurrent bone demineralization in the greater general population when atmospheric CO2 levels rise. Noted is the likelihood of neurological effects at CO2 levels around 1000 ppm is suggested by several past studies. Note is also made of other organisms such as fish having much lower arterial pressures than humans making them more vulnerable to environmental CO2 changes as found by other studies. This study concludes CO2's direct impact to the human physiology as well as other life is not as benign as many like to suggest, and beyond climate change, appears as a mechanism for undermining human sustainability deserving closer scrutiny, and greater discussion.