Which poisonous substance in cigarettes stops red blood cells from carrying oxygen?
1 Answer
Carbon Monoxide.
Explanation:
While cigarettes have a number of toxic substances, of which nicotine is the one with addictive potential, it is carbon monoxide that reduces the ability of the red blood cells to carry oxygen.
It does this by binding to haemoglobin in the red blood cells after diffusion through the alveoli and capillaries in the lungs and thus blocking the ability of oxygen to bind to haemoglobin.
Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of virtually any carbon-based fuel and is also present in air, but in minuscule quantities. The concentration that cigarette smokers are exposed to is higher because the smoke containing it is directly inhaled. The concentration will vary from smoker to smoker depending on the number of cigarettes smoked, the location, etc.
Some more information can be obtained here:
http://www.carbonmonoxidekills.com/are-you-at-risk/carbon-monoxide-in-cigarettes/
