Question

Carbon monoxide is a pollutant because:

• A. it reacts with $O_2$
• B. it inhibits glycolysis
• C. makes nervous system inactive
• D. reacts with hemoglobin

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

reacts with hemoglobin

Carbon monoxide ($CO$)—a colourless, odourless, tasteless, and toxic air pollutant—is produced in the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels, such as gasoline, natural gas, oil, coal, and wood.

$CO$ affects human health by impairing the ability of the blood to bring $O_2$ to body tissues. When $CO$ is inhaled, it rapidly crosses the alveolar epithelium to reach the blood, where it binds to haemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), a useful marker for predicting the health effects of $CO$. Because $CO$ has an affinity for haemoglobin more than 200 times greater than does $O_2$, the presence of $CO$ in the lung will displace $O_2$ from the haemoglobin.