The harms that COVID-19 policies cause extend outside vaccine injury or death. So called ‘collateral’ damage. Mask use may very well be contributing to the excess deaths now recognized by almost every country on the planet. Thousands of deaths might be expected to peak during a bad flu season, but since lockdowns were announced in the spring of 2020, many countries have experienced persistent levels of excess death in the thousands to this day. There’s been an ongoing debate over mask use regarding effectiveness (or lack thereof) in preventing transmission of viral infection, and also harmful side effects they might lead to.
So far most scientists and doctors are reluctant to blame vaccines as a contributing factor in the excess deaths. OK, so then what else? Vaccines weren’t the only thing that changed the landscape of human habitation starting in 2020. Some institutions, like healthcare for example, still require the ritual wearing of masks to receive service, but even today many persist on their own recognizance wearing masks in public spaces, and some even alone while driving in their cars. At home? I would not doubt it. The ‘pandemic’ seems to have permanently disabled some people psychologically – mysophobia.
Dr. Christina Parks recently claimed that extended mask use can lead to acidosis, a shift in the blood and other fluids of the body towards an acidic pH level. Acidosis is documented in the literature as favorable conditions in the growth and propagation of cancerous tumors. Could this, on a longer time frame of many months, be contributing to the excess death? Is what Parks claims even plausible?
First the mechanism. Physically, what happens with a face covering to raise fractional inspired carbon dioxide (FiCO2)? Any device attached to the face that complicates normal gas flow into the noise and mouth can potentially disturb proper flushing (clearance) of exhaled gas from the airway, and that can lead to rebreathing of the end tidal gas. End tidal gas contains the highest concentration of carbon dioxide in exhaled gas ranging between 4% to 6%, compared to atmospheric concentration of only about 0.04% or 400 parts per million. Clearance of exhaled gas could also be affected by disease states of the upper or lower airways, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary dysplasia (COPD). COPD is a respiratory disease that tends to ‘trap’ exhaled gas in the lung and airways.
Any device, including face coverings, artificially extend the physical breathing dead space beyond what the natural anatomy imposes. During exhalation, end tidal gases can be physically trapped in this dead space and rebreathed in the subsequent inhalation. Engineers that design PPE for safeguarding against respiratory hazards address this issue by (1) minimizing the dead space volume of the device, (2) using directional valves to maintain a unidirectional flow of gases, or most effectively, (3) positive pressure breathing systems that actively flush end tidal gas throughout exhalation.
The adoption of cloth and paper masks as PPE during the covid pandemic rapidly proceeded without careful and thorough consideration of either their effectiveness or safety. These masks indeed create an extension of the effective dead space in the airway. The mask, even though porous, acts as a barrier blocking surrounding air currents that would normally tend to clear exhaled gas near the uncovered airway. Masks effectively trap end tidal static gas between the mask and face long enough to be rebreathed on subsequent inhalation. There are a number of studies that that provide data supporting this hypothesis indicating increase of carbon dioxide:
[1] Rhee MSM, Lindquist CD, Silvestrini MT, Chan AC, Ong JJY, Sharma VK. Carbon dioxide increases with face masks but remains below short-term NIOSH limits. BMC Infect Dis. 2021 Apr 16;21(1):354. doi: 10.1186/s12879-021-06056-0. PMID: 33858372; PMCID: PMC8049746. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33858372/
[2] Epstein D, Korytny A, Isenberg Y, Marcusohn E, Zukermann R, Bishop B, Minha S, Raz A, Miller A. Return to training in the COVID-19 era: The physiological effects of face masks during exercise. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2021 Jan;31(1):70-75. doi: 10.1111/sms.13832. Epub 2020 Sep 30. PMID: 32969531; PMCID: PMC7646657. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32969531/
[3] Geiss, O. (2021). Effect of Wearing Face Masks on the Carbon Dioxide Concentration in the Breathing Zone. Aerosol Air Qual. Res. 21, 200403. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.07.0403 https://aaqr.org/articles/aaqr-20-07-covid-0403
[4] Chandrasekaran B, Fernandes S. “Exercise with facemask; Are we handling a devil’s sword?” – A physiological hypothesis. Med Hypotheses. 2020 Nov;144:110002. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110002. Epub 2020 Jun 22. PMID: 32590322; PMCID: PMC7306735. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32590322/
Chandrasekaran et al, written at the height of mask use before vaccines were deployed, actually compares the mask user to a person suffering from COPD. Persons exercising with a mask reduces the arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and increases the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2). The unbalance can lead to peripheral vasodilation, and a vast range of metabolic upsets on various organ systems causing headache, lethargy, fatigue, an increase in anxiety and depression, and a higher susceptibility to infection.
[5] Shein SL, Whitticar S, Mascho KK, Pace E, Speicher R, Deakins K. The effects of wearing facemasks on oxygenation and ventilation at rest and during physical activity. PLoS One. 2021 Feb 24;16(2):e0247414. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247414. PMID: 33626065; PMCID: PMC7904135. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33626065/
[6] Walach H, Weikl R, Prentice J, et al. Experimental Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Content in Inhaled Air With or Without Face Masks in Healthy Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. Published online June 30, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.2659 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2781743 RETRACTED with over a million views. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2782288
[7] Sanri E, Karacabey S, Unal E, Kudu E, Cetin M, Ozpolat C, Denizbasi A. The Cardiopulmonary Effects of Medical Masks and Filtering Facepiece Respirators on Healthy Health Care Workers in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Emerg Med. 2022 May;62(5):600-606. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2021.11.021. Epub 2022 Jan 19. PMID: 35058098; PMCID: PMC8767914. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35058098/
[8] Matuschek C, Moll F, Fangerau H, Fischer JC, Zänker K, van Griensven M, Schneider M, Kindgen-Milles D, Knoefel WT, Lichtenberg A, Tamaskovics B, Djiepmo-Njanang FJ, Budach W, Corradini S, Häussinger D, Feldt T, Jensen B, Pelka R, Orth K, Peiper M, Grebe O, Maas K, Gerber PA, Pedoto A, Bölke E, Haussmann J. Face masks: benefits and risks during the COVID-19 crisis. Eur J Med Res. 2020 Aug 12;25(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s40001-020-00430-5. PMID: 32787926; PMCID: PMC7422455. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32787926/
“Depending on the design, masks can increase the lung’s dead space. In extreme cases, carbon dioxide retention (hypercapnia) can occur with side effects. Only few investigations are available and addressing this medical problem. The available literature examined different types of N95 masks in the industrial setting in detail [14–16], and found relevant effects on the wearer. In this context, Kim et al. [17] studied the role of N95 masks on lung function and heart rate during low-to-moderate exercise/physical work load. Only healthy subjects seem to tolerate wearing such a mask.”
“N95/FFP2 masks. Test results demonstrated the potential risks of wearing this type of mask in the presence of advanced COPD [19]. Their use should be recommended with caution in this patient population, a questionably relevant recommendation, since the use of these masks is limited to health care workers”
[9] Sinkule EJ, Powell JB, Goss FL. Evaluation of N95 respirator use with a surgical mask cover: effects on breathing resistance and inhaled carbon dioxide. Ann Occup Hyg. 2013 Apr;57(3):384-98. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mes068. Epub 2012 Oct 29. PMID: 23108786. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23108786/
[10] Roberge RJ, Coca A, Williams WJ, Palmiero AJ, Powell JB. Surgical mask placement over N95 filtering facepiece respirators: physiological effects on healthcare workers. Respirology. 2010 Apr;15(3):516-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2010.01713.x. Epub 2010 Mar 11. PMID: 20337987. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20337987/
So we can accept as a fact that mask wearing can lead to an increase in rebreathed carbon dioxide.
It’s also general knowledge among respiratory therapists and engineers that develop various types of breathing apparatus that a high FiCO2 (fractional inspired carbon dioxide) over extended periods of time can lead to acidosis; an increase in PaCO2 and a lowering of blood pH. A pH less than 7.35 is considered acidotic since normal healthy blood is slightly alkaline (pH = 7.0 is neutral). The chemical process is relatively simple. Carbon dioxide, compared to other respired gases, is highly soluble in water, and once dissolved undergoes chemical bonding to create carbonic acid. Carbonic acid spontaneously dissociates into bicarbonate and carbonate ions, liberating ‘hydrions’; hydrogen ions. The concentration of hydrions determine the level of pH. By this chemical process in a human, an equilibrium is reached in pH depending on the tension (partial pressure) of carbon dioxide in the inspired gas.
Therefore extended mask use will lead to an increase in inspired carbon dioxide, which will lead to hypercarbia, and hypercarbia will lead to acidosis.
Does acidosis cause or promote the growth of tumors?
For that we need to dig into the literature.
[11] Anne Riemann, Sarah Reime, Oliver Thews, Tumor Acidosis and Hypoxia Differently Modulate the Inflammatory Program: Measurements In Vitro and In Vivo, Neoplasia, Volume 19, Issue 12, 2017, Pages 1033-1042, ISSN 1476-5586, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neo.2017.09.005 ,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1476558617302919
[12] Jonathan W. Wojtkowiak, Jennifer M. Rothberg, Virendra Kumar, Karla J. Schramm, Edward Haller, Joshua B. Proemsey, Mark C. Lloyd, Bonnie F. Sloane, Robert J. Gillies; Chronic Autophagy Is a Cellular Adaptation to Tumor Acidic pH Microenvironments. Cancer Res 15 August 2012; 72 (16): 3938–3947. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-11-3881 https://aacrjournals.org/cancerres/article/72/16/3938/576339/Chronic-Autophagy-Is-a-Cellular-Adaptation-to
[13] Gutt CN, Kim ZG, Hollander D, Bruttel T, Lorenz M. CO2 environment influences the growth of cultured human cancer cells dependent on insufflation pressure. Surg Endosc. 2001 Mar;15(3):314-8. doi: 10.1007/s004640000321. Epub 2000 Oct 20. PMID: 11344436. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11344436/
[14] Merryman JI, Park PG, Schuller HM. Carbon dioxide, an important messenger molecule for small cell lung cancer. Chest. 1997 Sep;112(3):779-84. doi: 10.1378/chest.112.3.779. PMID: 9315815. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9315815/
[15] Nevler A, Brown SZ, Nauheim D, Portocarrero C, Rodeck U, Bassig J, Schultz CW, McCarthy GA, Lavu H, Yeo TP, Yeo CJ, Brody JR. Effect of Hypercapnia, an Element of Obstructive Respiratory Disorder, on Pancreatic Cancer Chemoresistance and Progression. J Am Coll Surg. 2020 Apr;230(4):659-667. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2019.12.033. Epub 2020 Feb 11. PMID: 32058016; PMCID: PMC7498306. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32058016/
[16] Pillai SR, Damaghi M, Marunaka Y, Spugnini EP, Fais S, Gillies RJ. Causes, consequences, and therapy of tumors acidosis. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2019 Jun;38(1-2):205-222. doi: 10.1007/s10555-019-09792-7. PMID: 30911978; PMCID: PMC6625890. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30911978/
[17] Ibrahim-Hashim A, Estrella V. Acidosis and cancer: from mechanism to neutralization. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2019 Jun;38(1-2):149-155. doi: 10.1007/s10555-019-09787-4. PMID: 30806853; PMCID: PMC6625834.
[18] Corbet C, Pinto A, Martherus R, Santiago de Jesus JP, Polet F, Feron O. Acidosis Drives the Reprogramming of Fatty Acid Metabolism in Cancer Cells through Changes in Mitochondrial and Histone Acetylation. Cell Metab. 2016 Aug 9;24(2):311-23. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.07.003. PMID: 27508876.
[19] Pishbin E, Ahmadi GD, Sharifi MD, Deloei MT, Shamloo AS, Reihani H. The correlation between end-tidal carbon dioxide and arterial blood gas parameters in patients evaluated for metabolic acid-base disorders. Electron Physician. 2015 Jul 20;7(3):1095-101. doi: 10.14661/2015.1095-1101. PMID: 26388974; PMCID: PMC4574694.
[20] Damaghi M, Tafreshi NK, Lloyd MC, Sprung R, Estrella V, Wojtkowiak JW, Morse DL, Koomen JM, Bui MM, Gatenby RA, Gillies RJ. Chronic acidosis in the tumour microenvironment selects for overexpression of LAMP2 in the plasma membrane. Nat Commun. 2015 Dec 10;6:8752. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9752. PMID: 26658462; PMCID: PMC4682176. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4682176/
[21] Wm. H. Woglom; Acidosis, Alkalosis and Tumor Growth. The Journal of Cancer Research 1 April 1922; 7 (2): 149–150. https://doi.org/10.1158/jcr.1922.149 https://aacrjournals.org/jcancerres/article/7/2/149/449988/Acidosis-Alkalosis-and-Tumor-Growth
[22] Gabi Drochioiu, Chronic metabolic acidosis may be the cause of cachexia: Body fluid pH correction may be an effective therapy, Medical Hypotheses, Volume 70, Issue 6, 2008, Pages 1167-1173, ISSN 0306-9877,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2007.11.007 .
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987707006457
Even this rudimentary search of the literature suggests a connection or even a cause. So we can at least establish a chain of plausibility; not necessarily causality. It gives foundation to the hypothesis Dr. Parks claimed. With every hypothesis we must require an experiment for validation. But the experiment started three years ago. Many were forced to wear masks and many have chosen to continue wearing masks. The keyword here is choice. It is an experiment, so far with unknown results and conclusions. And so no one should be forced to be a lab rat. That goes against the Nuremberg Code, and guess what, the principles of the Nuremberg Code were codified into California Law – look it up! All you need to say is: “I DO NOT CONSENT”. And if you feel you need to explain further you can say you don’t want to take the risk of getting cancer, and present this research as evidence of concern.
Perhaps anyone still insisting on wearing a mask but after reading this might choose differently. But real phobias are hard to shake on your own and usually require psychological counseling. In any event since plausible harm is established – no one, and especially children should be mandated, forced or shamed to wear a mask if they choose not to. And in the case of children, that’s up to the parent’s choice. Just be aware of the potential harm. The grand experiment will eventually determine if they are truly causing cancers. But we should be free to NOT be a subject of that experiment.
Mike Borrello
maborrello