Climate change impacts permafrost stability and human blood chemistry

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are linked to both significant environmental tipping points and potential human health risks. Permafrost regions, which cover approximately 20 million square kilometers, store an estimated 1,500 gigatons of carbon—three times the amount found in all Earth's living vegetation. As warming temperatures cause this ground to thaw, microbes consume organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere in a self-reinforcing cycle. This process can fundamentally alter landscapes by creating thermokarsts, such as lakes and wetlands, which change soil thermal conductivity.

Simultaneously, research published in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health suggests that increasing CO2 levels may affect human blood chemistry. Analyzing data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2020, scientists observed the impact of CO2 rising from 369 ppm to 420 ppm. The study indicates that higher concentrations of inhaled carbon dioxide may lead to rising levels of serum bicarbonate, a chemical marker in the blood, as the human body responds to the changing atmosphere.