The concept of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) implies that there is a limit to the amount of oxygen that can be consumed by an organism in a given time. Many attempts have been made to delineate exactly what factor or factors are limiting to VO2 max. Current models focus on the steps over which oxygen must traverse in order to get from the ambient air to the mitochondria. However, no model has addressed the issue of whether or not carbon dioxide flux may impose a limit to VO2 max. Impedance of carbon dioxide flux may have a deleterious effect on intracellular pH, which in turn, may effect mitochondrial oxidative performance.