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bioeffluents at high CO2 significantly raised salivary α-amylase, a stress marker

Exact: 3000 ppm

Bioeffluent exposure at 3000 ppm CO2 significantly increased salivary α-amylase compared with pre-exposure levels

Salivary α-amylase is a well-established biomarker of autonomic arousal and psychological stress. Its significant increase under bioeffluent exposure (restricted ventilation, 3000 ppm CO2) compared to pre-exposure baseline reinforces the interpretation that bioeffluents drive a stress/arousal response beyond what CO2 alone would cause.

Exposure to bioeffluents, when metabolically generated CO2 was at 3000 ppm, significantly increased diastolic blood pressure and salivary α-amylase level compared with pre-exposure levels, and reduced the performance of a cue-utilization test: These effects may suggest higher arousal/stress.
X. Zhang et al., 2017, Indoor Air

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