Question

In incidents of fire in closed areas, deaths are reported due to hypoxia 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 the deficiency of oxygen in tissues
• B. CO produced during burning combines with haemoglobin forming carbamino-haemoglobin resulting in the deficiency of oxygen in tissues
• C. CO produced during burning combines with haemoglobin forming carboxy-haemoglobin resulting in the 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 the 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 results in hypoxia (deficiency of oxygen in tissue)