a paradigm of fragile earth in priestleys bell jar脆弱的地球的范式普利斯特里的钟罩.pdfVIP

Martin et al. Extreme Physiology Medicine 2012, 1:4 /content/1/1/4 RESEARCH Open Access A paradigm of fragile Earth in Priestleys bell jar 1,2* 3 4 1 5 1 Daniel Martin , Andrew Thompson , Iain Stewart , Edward Gilbert , Katrina Hope , Grace Kawai and Alistair Griffiths6 Abstract Background: Photosynthesis maintains aerobic life on Earth, and Joseph Priestly first demonstrated this in his eighteenth-century bell jar experiments using mice and mint plants. In order to demonstrate the fragility of life on Earth, Priestleys experiment was recreated using a human subject placed within a modern-day bell jar. Methods: A single male subject was placed within a sealed, oxygen-depleted enclosure (12.4% oxygen), which contained 274 C3 and C4 plants for a total of 48 h. A combination of natural and artificial light was used to ensure continuous photosynthesis during the experiment. Atmospheric gas composition within the enclosure was recorded throughout the study, and physiological responses in the subject were monitored. Results: After 48 h, the oxygen concentration within the container had risen to 18.1%, and hypoxaemia in the subject was alleviated (arterial oxygen saturation rose from 86% at commencement of the experiment to 99% at its end). The concentration of carbon dioxide rose to a maximum of 0.66% during the experiment. Conclusions: This simple but unique experiment highlights the importance of plant life within the Earths ecosystem by demonstrating our dependence upon it to restore and sustain an oxygen concentration that supports aerobic metabolism. Without the presence of plants within the sealed enclosure, the concentration of oxygen would have fallen, and carbon dioxide concentra