Final answer:
The half-life of carbon monoxide in association with hemoglobin at 100% oxygen is only 80 minutes, reducing significantly from 4 hours at room air which is crucial for treating carbon monoxide poisoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
At room air, the half-life of carbon monoxide in association with hemoglobin is 4 hours; at 100% oxygen, the half-life is only 80 minutes. Administering oxygen via non-rebreather mask significantly reduces the half-life of carbon monoxide bound to hemoglobin. This is due to the rapid displacement of carbon monoxide from carboxyhemoglobin by the oxygen, which restores the hemoglobin's ability to transport oxygen throughout the body. Considering the high affinity of carbon monoxide for hemoglobin, which is 200 times that of oxygen, this reduction in half-life is critical for the effective treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning.