Oxygen deprivation can lead to toxicity from which substances?

Oxygen deprivation can lead to toxicity from which substances?

• A. Salts
• B. Cyanide and carbon monoxide
• C. Alcohol
• D. Analgesics

Answer: (B)

Oxygen deprivation can lead to toxicity from cyanide and carbon monoxide primarily because both substances interfere with the body’s ability to utilize oxygen effectively. Cyanide is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome c oxidase, an essential enzyme in the electron transport chain within mitochondria. This inhibition halts cellular respiration, preventing cells from using oxygen to produce energy, leading to potential cellular and systemic dysfunction. When cells are deprived of oxygen due to cyanide exposure, they can suffer from an energy crisis, ultimately leading to cell death and severe toxicity. On the other hand, carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells with a much higher affinity than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin. This binding reduces the blood's overall oxygen-carrying capacity and disrupts the delivery of oxygen to tissues. Additionally, carbon monoxide can also interfere with cellular respiration at the mitochondrial level similar to cyanide, exacerbating the effects of oxygen deprivation. In contrast, while salts, alcohol, and analgesics can have adverse effects and potential toxicity, they do not directly cause toxicity through mechanisms that are primarily linked to oxygen deprivation in the same critical manner as cyanide and carbon monoxide.

Oxygen deprivation can lead to toxicity from cyanide and carbon monoxide primarily because both substances interfere with the body’s ability to utilize oxygen effectively.

Cyanide is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome c oxidase, an essential enzyme in the electron transport chain within mitochondria. This inhibition halts cellular respiration, preventing cells from using oxygen to produce energy, leading to potential cellular and systemic dysfunction. When cells are deprived of oxygen due to cyanide exposure, they can suffer from an energy crisis, ultimately leading to cell death and severe toxicity.

On the other hand, carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells with a much higher affinity than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin. This binding reduces the blood's overall oxygen-carrying capacity and disrupts the delivery of oxygen to tissues. Additionally, carbon monoxide can also interfere with cellular respiration at the mitochondrial level similar to cyanide, exacerbating the effects of oxygen deprivation.

In contrast, while salts, alcohol, and analgesics can have adverse effects and potential toxicity, they do not directly cause toxicity through mechanisms that are primarily linked to oxygen deprivation in the same critical manner as cyanide and carbon monoxide.