Lina Chanturia. Image, from the series «Metamorphosis», 2023 / Artwork: huxley.media
Climate change — is the global problem of the 21st century. Therefore, we are encouraged to counteract warming in a variety of ways. For example, eating less meat and reducing the number of livestock that emit methane into the atmosphere. Or give up internal combustion engines and switch to bicycles.
However, if these tasks, although difficult, are more or less solvable, there is one significant problem, which in general, is not solvable. British scientists believe that among the main culprits of global warming are not only cows and cars but also… human breathing.
CARBON FOOTPRINT AND SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS
Much has been said about the carbon footprint, which is the cause of global warming, both by scientists and the popular media. This footprint, in one way or another, is left by each of us using light, electricity, heat, turning on the TV, going on vacation by plane, or driving a car.
In this way, excess CO2 and some other greenhouse gases appear in the atmosphere. Their impact on all living things, including humans, is catastrophic since the climate has never changed so rapidly in the history of the Earth.
In fact, all of the above is the so-called «scientific consensus» on climate change. But that is exactly what the latest study by British scientists has aimed at.
FORGET THE SCHOOL LESSONS!
Quite «unpleasant» in its conclusions for mankind, the research project in question is headed by Nicholas Cowan. He is a respected scientist, Doctor of Science, atmospheric physicist from the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology in Edinburgh.
Most of us remember from school science lessons that humans breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. But this is, to put it mildly, not true.
Cowan calculated the composition of gases exhaled by humans with scientific precision: nitrogen (N) — 78%; oxygen (О2) — 17%; carbon dioxide (CO2) — 4%; other gases, including methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) — 1%.
WE ALL — ARE A SLIGHTLY PLANT-LIKE SPECIES!
According to our school course, when we inhale, air enters the lungs, where oxygen is absorbed into the blood, and carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the lungs and is exhaled. This process supposedly distinguishes us from plants, with which the opposite is true.
They utilize CO2 and release oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis. But as Cowan’s data shows, the popular science myths formed in childhood don’t hold up to scrutiny.
In terms of respiration, man behaves not only like an animal but also like a plant. He gives into the atmosphere not only carbon dioxide but also oxygen, which probably many of you have not realized before. But it gives out far less than it takes in.
YOU ARE GUILTY OF… BREATHING!
In view of the above, British scientists have expressed the opinion that breeding cows and operating cars are not the only evils that can happen to the Earth’s atmosphere. Quite decent troubles to it are caused by man. And not even by his household and economic activity but by the direct fact of his existence.
The fact is that the person… simply breathes! And his breath turns out to be quite deadly for the atmosphere. In the UK, human breath is responsible for 0.1% of greenhouse gas emissions. What about China and India, where no measurements have been taken? Empirically it is clear that in these countries the figure should be higher.
IT’S ALL ABOUT NITROUS OXIDE AND METHANE!
You might think that 0.1% is some insignificant trifle that could be neglected. But the catch is in the composition of the gas mixture you and I exhale. In addition to CO2, our breath contains at least two other greenhouse gases — methane and nitrous oxide. And it is these that scientists characterize as more powerful in their impact on the atmosphere and, consequently, more harmful to the climate than CO2. But that’s not all.
In addition to methane and nitrous oxide, people emit many other things. Apparently, the 0.1% does not include burping, for example. A lot of emissions also come from our skin — not only during intense physical activity but in any condition, constantly and unnoticed by us.
CARBON DIOXIDE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!
Nicholas Cowan’s verdict is unequivocal: «Exhaled human breath can contain small, elevated concentrations of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), both of which contribute to global warming». Cowan urged vigilance. Because the emissions that humans release into the atmosphere are generally considered insignificant. And very much for nothing!
Inside the human body, methane is produced by methanogens — colonies of microorganisms that live in our digestive tract. Methane then enters the bloodstream, and from there, it is transported to the lungs, which expel it outside. It’s a similar story with nitrates in food and water, which are converted into nitrous oxide.
Scientists believe that CH4 and N2O are potent greenhouse gases, but because they are exhaled in much smaller quantities, their significant contribution to global warming may not be accounted for. The contribution to climate change of CO2 from human breath, on the other hand, is just about zero, according to Cowan.
NOT BREATHING WON’T WORK!
The research involved 104 adult volunteers from the UK. They were asked to take a deep breath, hold it for 5 seconds, and then exhale into a plastic bag. After that, the bag was tightly closed, and its contents were subjected to chemical analysis while recording the age, gender, and dietary preferences of the subjects. In this way, 328 breath samples were collected.
Specialists found that nitrous oxide was released by each participant, but methane through the breath — only 31%, the rest released it in a way that is not very acceptable for decent society… Methane in the breath was most often found in women over 30 years old, but scientists have not understood why.
In addition, scientists were unable to find any link between gases in the breath and diet. So meat-eaters can relax — they are no more guilty of global warming than anyone else. The bad news is quite different — humankind is able to eat less beef, but it is unlikely to breathe less!
Measurements of methane and nitrous oxide in human breath and the development of UK scale emissions Ben Dawson, Julia Drewer, Toby Roberts, Peter Levy, Mathew Heal, Nicholas Cowan Published: December 13, 2023
Lina Chanturia. "Mfano kutoka kwa mfululizo wa ""Metamorphosis"" (Mfano: Huxley Media) ni ""Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa"" (Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa) ni tatizo la kimataifa la karne ya 21." Kwa hiyo, tunatiwa moyo kukabiliana na ongezeko la joto kwa njia mbalimbali. Kwa mfano, kula nyama kidogo na kupunguza idadi ya mifugo ambayo hutoa methane katika angahewa. Au kuacha injini za mwako wa ndani na kubadili baiskeli. Hata hivyo, kama kazi hizi, ingawa ni ngumu, ni zaidi au chini ya kutatua, kuna tatizo moja muhimu, ambayo kwa ujumla, si kutatua. Wanasayansi wa Uingereza wanaamini kwamba miongoni mwa wahusika wakuu wa ongezeko la joto duniani si ng'ombe na magari tu bali pia... pumzi ya binadamu. CORBON FOOTPRINT AND SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS Mengi yamesemwa kuhusu carbon footprint, ambayo ni kisababishi cha ongezeko la joto duniani, na wanasayansi na vyombo vya habari. "Kila mtu, kwa njia moja au nyingine, ana ""kiashiria"" cha kutumia taa, umeme, joto, kuwasha TV, kwenda likizo kwa ndege, au kuendesha gari." Kwa njia hii, CO2 ya ziada na gesi nyingine za chafu huonekana katika angahewa. "Uathiri wao kwa viumbe vyote hai, ikiwa ni pamoja na wanadamu, ni mbaya sana, kwa kuwa hali ya hewa haijawahi kubadilika haraka kama hii katika historia ya Dunia. """ Kwa kweli, yote ya hapo juu ni kinachoitwa "mapatano ya kisayansi" juu ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. Lakini hilo ndilo lengo la utafiti wa hivi karibuni uliofanywa na wanasayansi wa Uingereza. Sahau Mafunzo ya Shule! "Haipendezi" kabisa katika hitimisho lake kwa wanadamu, mradi wa utafiti unaohusika unaongozwa na Nicholas Cowan. Yeye ni mwanasayansi anayeheshimiwa, Daktari wa Sayansi, mwanafizikia wa anga kutoka Kituo cha Uingereza cha Ekolojia na Hydrology huko Edinburgh. Wengi wetu tunakumbuka kutoka masomo ya sayansi ya shule kwamba wanadamu hupumua oksijeni na kutoa kaboni dioksidi. Lakini hilo si kweli, kwa kusema kwa upole. Cowan alipima muundo wa gesi zinazopumua na wanadamu kwa usahihi wa kisayansi: nitrojeni (N) <78%, oksijeni (O2) <17%, kaboni dioksidi (CO2) <4%, gesi nyingine, ikiwa ni pamoja na methani (CH4) na nitrous oxide (N2O) <1%. TWOTE TUNA FARANISI NZURI NZOO ZILO FANANA NZO! "Kama tunavyojifunza shuleni, ""wakati tunapopumua hewa huingia mapafu, ambapo oksijeni huingia kwenye damu, na kaboni dioksidi hutoka kwenye damu na kuingia kwenye mapafu na kutolewa nje.""" Inasemekana kwamba utaratibu huo hututofautisha na mimea, ambayo ni kinyume chake. Wao hutumia CO2 na kutoa oksijeni kama bidhaa ya ziada ya photosynthesis. Lakini kama data ya Cowan inavyoonyesha, hadithi za sayansi za kawaida zilizofanyizwa katika utoto hazivumili uchunguzi. Kwa habari ya kupumua, mwanadamu haendelei tu kama mnyama bali pia kama mmea. Kwa kweli, hewa ya hewa ya dunia haitoi tu kaboni dioksidi, lakini pia oksijeni, ambayo labda wengi wenu hamkufahamu hapo awali. Lakini hutoa kidogo sana kuliko inavyochukua. UNAWALAMU KWA... Kupumua! Kwa kuzingatia hayo, wanasayansi wa Uingereza wameeleza maoni yao kwamba kuzaliana ng'ombe na kuendesha magari si uovu pekee ambao unaweza kutokea katika angahewa la Dunia. Matatizo mazuri sana yanasababishwa na mwanadamu. Na hata si kwa ajili ya nyumba yake na shughuli za kiuchumi lakini kwa sababu ya ukweli wa moja kwa moja wa kuwepo kwake. Ukweli ni kwamba mtu huyo... hupumua tu! Na pumzi yake inageuka kuwa hatari sana kwa angahewa. Katika Uingereza, pumzi ya binadamu ni wajibu kwa ajili ya 0.1% ya uzalishaji wa gesi chafu. Namna gani kuhusu China na India, ambako hakuna vipimo vilivyofanywa? Kwa kweli ni wazi kwamba katika nchi hizi takwimu inapaswa kuwa ya juu zaidi. Ni Kuhusu Nitrous OXIDE NA METHANE! Unaweza kufikiri kwamba 0.1% ni kitu kidogo ambacho kinaweza kupuuzwa. Lakini tatizo liko katika mchanganyiko wa gesi unayopumua wewe na mimi. Kwa kuongezea CO2, pumzi yetu ina angalau gesi nyingine mbili za chafu - methane na nitrous oxide. Kwa hivyo, wanasayansi wanaona kuwa athari zake kwa anga ni kubwa kuliko CO2. Lakini si hayo tu. Mbali na metani na oksidi nitriki, watu hutokeza vitu vingine vingi. Kwa mfano, 0.1% ya kiwango cha juu cha uharibifu wa mwili haijumuishi burping. Mengi ya uzalishaji pia hutoka kwa ngozi yetu <unk> si tu wakati wa shughuli kali za kimwili lakini katika hali yoyote, daima na bila kuonekana na sisi. CORBON DIOXIDE HAINA KUSHIKA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA KWA "Nicholas Cowan anasema: ""Uwezo wa kupumua unaweza kuwa na kiasi kidogo cha methane (CH4) na nitrous oxide (N2O), ambayo yote mawili huchangia ongezeko la joto duniani.""" Cowan alitoa wito wa kuwa macho. Kwa sababu kwa ujumla uzalishaji ambao wanadamu hutokeza katika angahewa huonwa kuwa usio na maana. Na ni bure sana! Ndani ya mwili wa binadamu, metani hutokezwa na methanogens - makoloni ya viumbe wadogo wanaoishi katika mfumo wetu wa kumeng'enya chakula. Kisha methani huingia katika mtiririko wa damu, na kutoka hapo, hupelekwa kwenye mapafu, ambayo huitupa nje. Ni hadithi sawa na nitrati katika chakula na maji, ambayo ni kubadilishwa katika oksidi nitrous. Wanasayansi wanaamini kwamba CH4 na N2O ni gesi zenye nguvu za chafu, lakini kwa sababu zinatolewa kwa kiasi kidogo sana, mchango wao mkubwa kwa ongezeko la joto la dunia hauwezi kuhesabiwa. Kwa upande mwingine, mchango wa CO2 kutoka kwa pumzi ya binadamu kwa mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa ni karibu sifuri, kulingana na Cowan. KUKOSWA KWA UUPUHA HATAFANIKI! Utafiti huo ulihusisha watu wazima 104 kutoka Uingereza. Waliambiwa kupumua kwa kina, kisha kwa sekunde tano, kisha kupumua ndani ya mfuko wa plastiki. Baada ya hapo, mfuko huo ulifungwa kwa nguvu, na yaliyokuwa ndani yake yakachunguzwa kwa kemikali huku umri, jinsia, na vyakula vilivyopendwa na wagonjwa wakirekodiwa. Kwa njia hii, sampuli za pumzi 328 zilikusanywa. "Wanafunzi walipata kwamba oksidi ya nitrous ilitolewa na kila mshiriki, lakini methane kupitia pumzi - 31% tu, wengine walitoa kwa njia ambayo haikubaliki sana kwa jamii ya heshima, ""alisema, ""methane katika pumzi iligunduliwa mara nyingi zaidi kwa wanawake zaidi ya miaka 30, lakini wanasayansi hawajaelewa kwa nini." Kwa kuongezea, wanasayansi hawakuweza kupata uhusiano wowote kati ya gesi katika pumzi na chakula. Kwa hiyo wale wanaokula nyama wanaweza kupumzika <unk> wao si wahalifu zaidi wa ongezeko la joto la dunia kuliko mtu mwingine yeyote. Habari mbaya ni tofauti kabisa <unk> ubinadamu unaweza kula nyama ya ng'ombe kidogo, lakini haiwezekani kupumua kidogo! Utafiti wa methane na nitrous oxide katika pumzi ya binadamu na maendeleo ya uzalishaji wa kiwango cha Uingereza Ben Dawson, Julia Drewer, Toby Roberts, Peter Levy, Matthew Heal, Nicholas Cowan, na wengine.