Is Our Blood Similar to Sea Water?

Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash

Hall of Life—Ocean Life Exhibits

on January 4, 2016

The claim that the composition of blood is similar to sea water is based on the assumption that life came from the ocean. The following table shows that, contrary to what some may claim, the similarities between our blood and seawater are simply not there. However, even if blood and sea water were similar, this wouldn’t prove one came from the other.

The information in the chart was taken from:

  • C.A. Burtis and E.R. Ashwood, Clinical Chemistry. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1994 edition.
  • R.C. Baselt and R.H. Cravey, Disposition of toxic drugs and chemicals in Man. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publ., 1989 edition.
  • The New Encyclopædia Britannica, 15:925, 1992, 15th ed.
ElementBloodSeawater
Sodium3220 mg/liter10800
Chlorine365019400
Potassium200392
Calcium50411
Magnesium271290
Phosphorus360.09
Iron10.004
Copper10.001
Zinc1.10.005
Chromium1.10.0002
Bromine467
Fluorine0.11.3
Boron15
Selenium0.90.0001

Museum Guide

Are you exasperated by all the hype about "millions of years" in secular museums? The Museum Guide will help!

Browse Kids Book