Effects of Carbon Monoxide on the Human Body
Before we discuss the toxic effects of carbon monoxide, it is necessary to know about the structure of hemoglobin which is present in the red cells of the blood. Hemoglobin is an octahedral complex of Fe (II) and the four corners of the square base are occupied by four nitrogen atoms of the heme group. The fifth position is occupied by the nitrogen atom of histidine. While the six-position is unoccupied.
When human beings or animals inhale the oxygen from the atmosphere, the gas combines with the six-position to form an oxy-hemoglobin compound. Oxy-hemoglobin formed in the lungs dissociates into Hb and oxygen at the cells of muscles. Therefore oxygen becomes available to the body muscles or body cells.
What is anoxia?
Now if a human being or animal inhales CO, instead of oxygen vacant position of hemoglobin is occupied by carbon monoxide due to the greater affinity of Hb towards CO than the oxygen. It formed carboxyhemoglobin. The formation of carboxyhemoglobin makes Hb take up oxygen from the lungs. Therefore, the quantity of oxygen available to the body cells is reduced. It is called anoxia or oxygen starvation. It produces suffocation and may even lead to death.
If a person smokes a packet of cigarettes daily, he inhales carbon monoxide from the cigarette smoke. Therefore CO produces HbCO in the blood and hence normal body functions are disturbed.
Treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning
The most effective treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning is that the victim is exposed to oxygen gas under high pressure. In this way, CO present in the hemoglobin is substituted by oxygen gas. Therefore, HbO2 comes in contact with the cells of human beings or animals.
Originally published at https://studychem.livejournal.com.
