Final answer:
The statement is false; toxic chemicals like carbon monoxide and cyanide interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, not the hydrogen levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that breathing in toxic chemicals pollutes the body by reducing the amount of hydrogen in the bloodstream is false. The main concern with breathing in toxic chemicals, such as carbon monoxide (CO), is that they can interfere with the oxygen carrying capacity of blood to critical organs such as the heart and brain. Chemicals like CO and cyanide do not act by reducing hydrogen levels; instead, they impair the blood's ability to transport oxygen and disrupt cellular respiration. CO binds with the hemoglobin in red blood cells more readily than oxygen does, which can lead to oxygen deprivation at the tissue level. Similarly, chemicals like cyanide inhibit enzymes in the cellular respiration pathway, effectively stopping cells from using oxygen. Therefore, the harmful effects of these toxic chemicals directly relate to their impact on oxygen delivery and usage in the body, not on altering hydrogen levels in the bloodstream.