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As the aircraft climbs to higher altitudes, the pilot's susceptibility to carbon monoxide poisoning will...

  • A

    increase.

  • B

    increase up to 8000 ft and then stay constant at higher altitudes.

  • C

    decrease.

  • D

    stay the same as at sea level.

CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

In our red blood cells, oxygen mixes with hemoglobin and is then transferred to the body. When inhaling carbon monoxide, it binds to hemoglobin in the red blood cells with a much higher affinity than oxygen. The carbon monoxide inhaled mixes with hemoglobin before oxygen does, leading to reduced ability of the blood to deliver oxygen to the body cells.

As we climb at higher altitudes, the amount of oxygen decreases and less oxygen is available to compete with carbon monoxide while mixing with hemoglobin. This makes smaller amounts of carbon monoxide enough to cause carbon monoxide poisoning and the susceptibility of the pilot increases.

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