High Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Atmosphere could be Changing our Blood Chemistry
28 February 2026
According to a study, published in the journal “Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health” on 26 February 2026, rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) may already be affecting human biology, not just the climate.
A recent CNN article looks at this study in more depth, but here are the key points:
The blood chemistry in our bodies is changing
- Analysis of long-term health data (1999–2020) shows an increase in bicarbonate levels in human blood, which is directly linked to CO₂ in the body. At the same time, calcium and phosphorus levels have decreased.
The results are linked to rising CO₂ levels in the air
- These biological changes closely track the rise in atmospheric CO₂, which has increased significantly over the same period.
Our bodies are compensating
- The body adjusts to higher CO₂ by retaining more bicarbonate to maintain blood pH (acid–base balance). This indicates a physiological response to environmental change.
The phenomenon is not immediately dangerous, but concerning
- Researchers stress that there is no immediate health crisis, but the trend is a signal that warrants attention.
There are potential long-term health effects
- If CO₂ continues to rise, these changes could push blood chemistry towards the limits of what is considered healthy, possibly affecting organs and bodily systems over time.
Public health implications
- The findings suggest that atmospheric composition should be considered not only an environmental issue but also a public health factor, reinforcing the need to reduce emissions.
There is emerging evidence that increasing CO₂ levels may already be subtly altering human blood chemistry. While the effects are not yet harmful, they indicate a measurable interaction between climate change and human physiology, with uncertain long-term consequences.