Viruses love CO2, and that’s not good news

At the height of the Covid crisis, we were advised to limit the risks of transmission by ventilating spaces where multiple people might be meeting. And researchers from the University of Bristol (UK) confirm today in the journal Natural communications that the advice was wise. Perhaps even more than scientists thought at the time.

CO2 increases the lifespan of viruses

Remember that during pandemicpandemicbelonging sensorssensors carbon dioxide (CO₂) were used to estimate ventilationventilation building. Together₂ and the virus are, in fact, both present inairair how we exhale. But this time the researchers went a little further. In fact, they report that the presence of CO₂ in the air allows the virus to survive longer. With the risk of infection, which increases accordingly.

Researchers tested behavior SARS-CoV-2SARS-CoV-2 at CO concentrations₂ ranging from 400 ppm (ppmppm) – approximate level of outside air – at around 6500 ppm. And it turns out that from 800 ppm is the level considered “well ventilated” – the aerostability of the virus increases. After 40 minutes, compared to clean air, about 10 times more viruses remained infectious if there was a concentration of CO in the air.₂ as in a crowded room – or 3000 ppm. According to the researchers, the issue is pH. Because if exhaled droplets containing SARS-CoV-2 have a high pH, ​​which quickly reduces their infectiousness, the acidity of CO₂ makes them smaller alkalinealkaline.

Viruses can estimate global warming

Opening WindowWindowso we can not only physically remove the virus from the room, but also prevent the virus droplets from being lost. toxicitytoxicity for it, by introducing air less saturated with CO₂.

The trouble is that climatologistsclimatologists claim that by the end of this century, CO levels₂ could rise to more than 700 parts per million in our atmosphere, which would not only increase global warming, but also improve the transmission of viruses.