Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a gas that is produced when combustible materials are burned. The incomplete combustion of fossil fuels produces high levels of CO, which is why exposure to car exhaust fumes or coal mine emissions can be so dangerous. When CO enters the body, it binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells and prevents oxygen from being transported to the tissues.
Acute carbon monoxide poisoning typically results in symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. However, chronic exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can also cause health problems, including metabolic acidosis, which occurs when the body cannot properly regulate its pH level. In the case of carbon monoxide poisoning, metabolic acidosis is caused by the buildup of lactic acid in the blood.
Lactic acid is produced when the body breaks down glucose for energy. Under normal circumstances, the liver removes lactic acid from the blood and converts it into pyruvic acid. However, if someone has carbon monoxide poisoning, the lactic acid accumulates in the blood because the poisoned red blood cells cannot transport oxygen to the liver. This leads to a buildup of lactic acid and an increase in blood pH.
