Question

In incidents of fire in closed areas, deaths are reported due to hypoxia (deficiency of oxygen in tissues) even though the victims are not burnt. What is the reason for this?

• A. $C{O}_2$ produced during burning combines with Haemoglobin forming carboxy-haemoglobin resulting in deficiency of oxygen in tissues
• B. CO produced during burning combines with Haemoglobin forming carbamino-haemoglobin resulting in deficiency of oxygen in tissues
• C. CO produced during burning combines with Haemoglobin forming carboxy-haemoglobin resulting in deficiency of oxygen in tissues
• D. All the oxygen gets used up in the burning fire resulting in hypoxia leading to death

Answer 1

The correct option is C

CO produced during burning combines with Haemoglobin forming carboxy-haemoglobin resulting in deficiency of oxygen in tissues

Carbon monoxide(CO) binds with haemoglobin with an affinity 200-250 times greater than that of oxygen. It forms a very stable complex called carboxy-haemoglobin. This does not let oxygen bind to haemoglobin. This results in hypoxia.