Question

Carbon monoxide is a pollutant because it
(a)Reacts with oxygen
(b)Inhibits glycolysis
(c)Reacts with haemoglobin
(d)Makes nervous system inactive

Answer 1

Blood has a much stronger affinity for CO (carbon monoxide) than it does for oxygen about 200 times which causes the displacement of oxygen from the oxygen carrier protein. CO can also bind to myoglobin, another oxygen carrier protein.

Complete answer:
CO binds more easily to haemoglobin (Hgb) by displacing oxygen and forming carboxyhemoglobin Premature release of oxygen prior to reaching distal tissue leads to hypoxia at the cellular level Inflammatory response is initiated due to poor and inadequate tissue perfusion. Myocardial depression from CO exposure can lead to dysrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, MI. Vasodilation is caused due to the increased release of nitric oxide which worsening tissue perfusion and leading to syncope.

Additional Information: -CO imparts a cherry-pink discolouration to the skin which is the inherent colour of HBCO.
-CO can also bind to myoglobin, another oxygen carrier protein.
-Carboxyhemoglobin is a very stable substance. Does not want to give up it’s CO. This means that it is very hard to get the carbon monoxide out of haemoglobin. As long as CO is in haemoglobin, oxygen cannot be there too.
-The inability of oxygen to get around the body in the blood leads to hypoxia (low-oxygen).
-Myoglobin affinity is 40 times greater than oxygen causing myocardial inhibition, hypotension, ventricular arrhythmia, and cardiac arrest.
-CO is known to cause gradual deterioration of myocardial function. It may produce ventricular arrhythmias and ECG abnormalities.
-The elimination of CO from the body depends greatly on the concentration of oxygen because the 2 gases are competing for Hb. 80-90 minutes using oxygen therapy and 30 minutes using hyperbaric oxygen.
-The goal of CO therapy is to improve oxygenation especially to the vital organs, the heart and brain.

So, the correct answer is ‘Reacts with haemoglobin.’

Note: -Cigarette smoke contains 5% CO.
-Carbon monoxide is formed from combustion of fuel that is too oxygen-starved to make Carbon Dioxide.
-All Carbon Monoxide is incompletely formed by carbon dioxide.
-Carbon Monoxide is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless. It is a flammable gas and burns with a blue flame. This is a compound with one carbon atom bound to one oxygen atom.