Why has the dreaded miasma in the primeval forest disappeared now?

Author: Duan Yuechu and Huang Xianghong

Miasma, a dreaded poisonous gas, comes from toxic gases in nature. Its main components are hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, etc., which are fatal to the human body when the concentration is extremely high. In ancient my country, especially in the southern region, due to the special geographical environment, the tropical rainforest climate gave birth to a rich variety of biological species, and also produced miasma. The ancients often regarded miasma as the incarnation of the devil. Once touched, the mildest ones will become sick, and the worst ones will die.

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, during Zhuge Liang's seven attempts to capture Meng Huo, miasma became a highly symbolic element. It not only reflects the harsh environment in the south, but also reveals Zhuge Liang's spirit of daring to take risks and face challenges for the sake of national interests. The appearance of miasma in the novel not only enhances the legendary color of the story, but also reveals the fullness of the character's personality.

However, miasma is now extremely rare in real life. Why is this? First, with the development of science and technology, people's understanding of miasma has gradually deepened, and prevention methods have been continuously improved. Secondly, modern environmental governance has achieved remarkable results, reducing the conditions for the generation of miasma. Finally, the improvement of the ecological environment has enabled the root causes of toxic gas production to be controlled. Therefore, miasma has gradually disappeared in modern society.

From a chemical point of view, the generation and dissipation of miasma is a complex process. The main components of miasma are hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, etc. Under certain conditions, such as high temperature, high pressure, and hypoxia, these gases will undergo chemical reactions to generate miasma. Modern industrial development and environmental governance have improved these conditions, thereby reducing the generation of miasma. At the same time, the use of adsorbents such as activated carbon and sodium hydroxide has also effectively eliminated miasma.

Biological factors play a key role in the generation and dissipation of miasma. Biodegradation can convert toxic gases into harmless substances, thereby reducing the harm of miasma. In addition, the absorption of plants can also reduce the concentration of miasma. The improvement of the modern ecological environment has strengthened the biodegradation and absorption, further reducing the harm of miasma.

Speaking of miasma, we have to mention Tao Yuanming's "Peach Blossom Spring". The article describes a secluded peach blossom spring, but in fact, it may be a place invaded by miasma. Imagine a group of fishermen who strayed into the peach blossom spring, enjoying the beautiful scenery without knowing that they were in the miasma. This may be the horrible truth that Tao Yuanming wanted to reveal: behind the beautiful appearance, there are unpredictable dangers.

In summary, the mysterious phenomenon of miasma presents different faces from multiple perspectives such as history, literature, chemistry, and biology. From the demon incarnation in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" to the poisonous gas that gradually disappears in modern society, the source, harm, dissipation and the horrible truth behind miasma are all worthy of our in-depth discussion. And this process is also a reflection on nature and human civilization.