Oxygen carrying capacity of human blood is reduced due ot the pollution of

Options

A. `CO_(2)` on RBCs
B. `CO`
C. `SO_(2)`
D. `O_(3)`

Answer

To solve the question regarding the reduction of oxygen carrying capacity of human blood due to pollution, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks which pollutant reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of human blood. The options given are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone.

2. **Identifying the Role of Hemoglobin**: Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells (RBCs) responsible for carrying oxygen. It binds to oxygen in the lungs and releases it in the tissues.

3. **Analyzing the Pollutants**:
- **Carbon Dioxide (CO2)**: While CO2 is a waste product of respiration, it does not directly reduce the oxygen carrying capacity of hemoglobin.
- **Carbon Monoxide (CO)**: CO has a much higher affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen. When CO is present, it binds to hemoglobin more readily than oxygen does, preventing oxygen from binding effectively.
- **Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)**: This gas can cause respiratory problems but does not directly affect the binding of oxygen to hemoglobin.
- **Ozone (O3)**: Ozone can irritate the lungs and affect breathing but does not directly interfere with hemoglobin's ability to carry oxygen.

4. **Conclusion**: Among the options, carbon monoxide is the pollutant that significantly reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood by binding to hemoglobin in an irreversible manner, making it unavailable for oxygen transport.

5. **Final Answer**: The correct answer is **carbon monoxide**.