A dangerous indoor air pollutant is

A dangerous indoor air pollutant is

• A. Ozone
• B. Sulfur dioxide
• C. Nitrogen oxides
• D. Carbon monoxide

Answer: (D)

Dangerous indoor air pollutants are often those that are invisible and tasteless, yet can disrupt the body's ability to use oxygen. Carbon monoxide fits this profile in a critical way. It is produced by incomplete combustion from common indoor sources like furnaces, space heaters, gas stoves, or a car running in an attached garage. Once inhaled, carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin with a much higher affinity than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin and dramatically reducing the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen to tissues. This can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, and at higher levels can lead to unconsciousness or death. Because it is colorless and odorless, people may not detect its presence without a detector, making it especially dangerous in enclosed spaces. Ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides are irritants and can be harmful, but they don’t typically pose the same immediate, stealthy risk to oxygen transport indoors as carbon monoxide.

Dangerous indoor air pollutants are often those that are invisible and tasteless, yet can disrupt the body's ability to use oxygen. Carbon monoxide fits this profile in a critical way. It is produced by incomplete combustion from common indoor sources like furnaces, space heaters, gas stoves, or a car running in an attached garage. Once inhaled, carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin with a much higher affinity than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin and dramatically reducing the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen to tissues. This can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, and at higher levels can lead to unconsciousness or death. Because it is colorless and odorless, people may not detect its presence without a detector, making it especially dangerous in enclosed spaces. Ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides are irritants and can be harmful, but they don’t typically pose the same immediate, stealthy risk to oxygen transport indoors as carbon monoxide.