How much more readily does Carbon Monoxide (CO) bind to hemoglobin compared to oxygen?

Carbon monoxide (CO) has a significantly higher affinity for hemoglobin compared to oxygen (O2), with studies showing that CO binds to hemoglobin approximately 210 times more readily than oxygen does. This strong binding occurs because CO fits more snugly into the heme group of hemoglobin, leading to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin, which reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen effectively.

Understanding this disparity is crucial for recognizing the potential dangers of carbon monoxide exposure. The high affinity of CO for hemoglobin can lead to tissue hypoxia, as it displaces oxygen on hemoglobin and inhibits its release to tissues. In clinical practice, awareness of this affinty helps guide the diagnosis and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning, where timely intervention is necessary to displace CO from hemoglobin and restore adequate oxygen delivery to tissues. This knowledge is particularly important in environments where exposure to CO is possible, such as in closed spaces with combustion engines or improperly ventilated heating systems.

The other choices reflect a misunderstanding of the specific binding dynamics between CO and hemoglobin, emphasizing that the 210 times figure is based on well-established empirical data.