Final answer:
A normal person may experience death within a few minutes at a carboxyhemoglobin volume of 60%. Carbon monoxide binds strongly to hemoglobin, impeding oxygen transport and leading to quick fatalities at high levels. Treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning includes administering 100 percent oxygen, which can displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percentage by volume of carboxyhemoglobin that can cause death within a few minutes is generally 60%. When hemoglobin comes into contact with carbon monoxide (CO), instead of oxygen, it forms carboxyhemoglobin. Due to CO's high affinity for hemoglobin, it can readily displace oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin and leading to tissue hypoxia. At high levels, this can be fatal very quickly.
City dwellers typically have 1% to 8% due to pollution, but levels above 40% are often associated with death. Immediate treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning includes removing the person from the CO environment, providing CPR if necessary, and administering 100 percent oxygen. This treatment significantly displaces carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, allowing it to revert to its oxygen-carrying form and alleviate the poisoning.