Scientists have also linked soda consumption to an elevated risk of pulmonary complications, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD). "The amount of soft drink consumption is associated with an increased chance of asthma and/or COPD,” Dr. Zumin Shi, a researcher at the University of Adelaide and lead author of the 2012 study, wrote. “There exists a dose-response relationship, which means the more soft drink one consumes, the higher the chance of having these diseases.”