Relationship between the major parameters of warm-blooded organisms' life activity and the properties of aqueous salt solutions

Abstract

<abstract> <p>We are devoted to the physical analysis of the habitat area of warm-blooded organisms – humans and many mammals. For this purpose, the establishment of equilibrium distribution of carbon dioxide in aqueous solutions of salts in contact with atmospheric air starting from some time is investigated. More precisely, the relaxation time of carbon dioxide, as a function of temperature and pH, is investigated. It is found that the pH-relaxation time <italic>τ_S</italic> is a very nontrivial function of temperature, pH values, and NaCl salt concentration. It was assumed that the minimum value of pH relaxation time corresponds to the optimal rate of physical processes in living matter. Using this selection principle and our experimental data, we have shown that the optimal temperature for human and mammalian life activity is close to <italic>T_o</italic> ≈ 37 °C. The lower and upper temperature limits for their possible activity are close to <italic>T_l</italic> ≈ 30 °C and <italic>T_u</italic> ≈ 42 °C, respectively. The optimal value of <italic>pH</italic>_o, determined by the same selection principle, also becomes true if supplemented by the influence of albumin and other proteins.</p> </abstract>