Excessive release of the pollutant carbon monoxide (CO) into the air may produce a condition in which oxygen supply in the human body decreases. What causes this condition?
✓ Correct answer: b) The inhaled CO has much higher affinity for haemoglobin as compared to oxygen.
ExplanationWhen carbon monoxide (CO) is inhaled, it binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells with a much stronger affinity than oxygen.Hemoglobin normally binds to oxygen to transport it throughout the body, but CO binds more tightly, forming carboxyhemoglobin.This reduces the ability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen effectively, leading to a decrease in oxygen supply to vital organs and tissues.Carbon monoxide (CO) has approximately 200-250 times more affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen, which means it competes with oxygen for binding sites on hemoglobin.366
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