ABSTRACT
CO2 is naturally present in the atmosphere and is a normal constituent of the human body, which produces about 1.0 kg of CO2/day through respiration. The level of atmospheric CO2 is increasing and the best-known effect of such increase is global warming. However, there are a number of animal studies reporting that increased CO2 levels (hypercapnia) leads to acute and long-term toxicity to the lungs, the cardiovascular system, and the nervous system of the exposed animals. This chapter examines the possible interactions between the HCO3-/CO2 pair and biological hydroperoxides, the circumstances in which they may occur, and the physiological consequences they may have. To explore these interactions, it is helpful to summarize the chemical biology of the individual players. Under physiological conditions, the affinity of CO2 for nucleophiles is responsible for its participation in metabolic reactions, in reversible binding to proteins, such as hemoglobin in blood, and in reactions with biological hydroperoxides.
