Why do people with late stage Carbon Monoxide poisoning have a bright red color to them?

Answer 1

Carbon monoxide (CO) is picked up by the iron center in the hemoglobin molecule just like molecular oxygen (O2). The bright red color of blood isn't a direct result of oxygen, it is a direct result of the iron and its relationship to electrons around it. Notice that rusted iron is a deep red, even when it isn't captured in a hemoglobin molecule. Rust is just the combination of oxygen with iron, "iron oxide".

Carbon monoxide combines with hemoglobin even better than molecular oxygen alone. The reason for this is that molecular oxygen in the O2 configuration has symmetry with respect to electron distribution. The electrons tend to spend equal time around both oxygen nuclei because they are identical. However, in CO, the oxygen nucleus is much more avid for its attraction to electrons. It is considered more "electronegative". Because of this, CO has a slightly polar quality with a weakly positive end at the C and a weakly negative end at the O. This slighly more negative O really latches onto the iron at the center of the hemoglobin molecule. That iron atom is in the 2+ oxidation state!

The toxic effect of carbon monoxide isn't that it causes direct damage to cells or tissues, but instead it combines with hemoglobin and effectively blocks the normal oxygen carrying capacity of red blood cells. Even small amounts of carbon monoxide can cause significant toxicity in this manner, because once combined with hemoglobin, it tends to stick in place for a long time.

The treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning is high flow oxygen. The goal is to just support the patient until the carbon monoxide falls off by itself and is exhaled.

I hope that answers your question.

Answer 2

It's not a right red color so much as a pretty pink tone. It happens because your cells are saturated with carbon monoxide. That's the color that skin cells turn when saturated with it. In fact, morticians kind of like it when people die of carbon monokide poisoning because their skin is a healthful tone and they have to do less work, at least that's what my friend who's studying that told me.

Answer 3

carbon monoxide has a way of taking over the hemoglobin in the body where the oxygen molecule usually rides aroung going to the cells in the body. that is why you have a false high sat with co posining.