Question

Explain (in terms of blood chemistry and respiratory physiology) why the victims in the manure pit did not realize that they were suffocating. What would be the expected blood pH values of the individuals involved (high, low, normal)? What mechanism accounts for this?

Answer 1

Carbon dioxide levels in their blood did not reach a high level to be able to process the Oxygen.It takes a high Carbon dioxide level and low blood pH to feel like you are suffocating. The people in the pit didn’t realize they were suffocating due to these factors.

In the real sense, they were suffocating as there was no oxygen in the pit but their carbon dioxide and pH chemoreceptors indicated that everything was alright.

I would expect their pH levels to be normal.