The normal human body breathes to eliminate CO2, producing 200cc per minute that has to be eliminated at the same rate.
One can of soda contains up to 1000cc of dissolved CO2, most of which is absorbed into the blood stream by the intestines.
The Lungs are presented with the extra CO2 to eliminate by increased minute volume leading to increased respiratory effort.
A normal individual won't have a problem with this extra CO2, as the extra CO2 absorbed via the intestinal track will signal the central chemoreceptors to "immediately" increase the respiratory rate.
Hmm. If the CO2 is quickly absorbed then as a wild guess that would mean 10 minutes or so of increased CO2 blood levels. Does that mean 10 minutes of reduced initiative? Don't let Bloomberg hear about this aspect of "Demon Sprite!"
It wouldn't be hard to repeat their experiment with the subjects constantly sipping soda, provided the tests didn't last a long time. Blood tests of CO2 level are apparently not that easy, and drinking doesn't play well with wearing a mask to measure breath CO2 levels.
Just popping the top off a can and letting the fizz out is probably enough to blow a hole in the ozone, or account for a cooling troposphere that proves the lower atmosphere is warming, or whatever the theory is this month. What we need is a 16-oz limit on soda pop, to reduce everyone's fizz footprint.
ReplyDeleteWhat would increase CO2 in localised areas, such as a school?
ReplyDeleteSo, we should do Lance Armstrong blood-doping with superoxygenated blood we created sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber in order to do take our SAT's or stay up late with that science project or whatever?
No, bring a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. From time to time pour a little into a glass with a little platinum dust in the bottom and take a deep breath.
ReplyDeleteOf course the colas have caffeine, so that may counteract sluggishness, if any. (I've no idea how fast CO2 is absorbed from the intestines: probably slower than from the lungs, which are optimized to transfer CO2.)