Question

What is the effect on the O2 affinity of hemoglobin? An increase in CO from 1.0 parts per million(ppm) in a normal indoor atmosphere to 30 ppm in a home that has a malfunctioning or leaking furnace.

With this one I am unsure. Is this answer increase in oxygen affinity of hemoglobin because carbon monoxide bound to one site in hemoglobin will shift the oxygen saturation curve of the remaining sites to the left, resulting in an increased affinity for oxygen, or would it be a decrease in oxygen affinity for hemoglobin because carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin tighter to hemoglobin than oxygen?

Answer 1

Effect of Carbon monoxide on O2 affinity of Hemoglobin.

Carbon monoxide Increases the O2 affinty of Hemoglobin.But it can cause serious damage to Body.

Explanation-

Carbon monoxide has 210 times greater affinity for haemoglobin than oxygen . When you breathe in carbon monoxide, the CO also binds to hemoglobin. It binds so strongly that is keeps oxygen from binding as well. After the carbon monoxide has selectively bound to haemoglobin the oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation curve of the remaining oxyhaemoglobin shifts to the left, reducing oxygen release

Hemoglobin is a tetramer with four oxygen binding sites. The binding of carbon monoxide at one of these sites increases the oxygen affinity of the remaining three sites, which causes the hemoglobin molecule to retain oxygen that would otherwise be delivered to the tissue. This causes hypoxic tissue injury.

Over time, if you breathe enough carbon monoxide, it binds to all of the hemoglobin in your body, and you no longer have enough oxygen in your blood