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

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?

(a)

When inhaled into the human body CO is converted into CO2

(b)

The inhaled CO has much higher affinity for haemoglobin as compared to oxygen

(c)

The inhaled CO destroys the chemical structure of haemoglobin

(d)

The inhaled CO adversely affects the respiratory centre in the brain

Answer:

(b)

Core Books/NCERT

Explanation

The condition in which oxygen supply in the human body decreases due to excessive release of the pollutant carbon monoxide (CO) into the air is caused by the fact that the inhaled CO has much higher affinity for hemoglobin as compared to oxygen. When inhaled, carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the red blood cells with a much higher affinity than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin. This reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, as the carboxyhemoglobin cannot effectively transport oxygen throughout the body. This can lead to tissue hypoxia, or a deficiency of oxygen in the body`s tissues, which can have serious health consequences, including damage to vital organs such as the brain and heart.