Blood analysis of a patient reveals an unusually high quantity of carboxyhaemoglobin content. Which of the following conclusions is most likely to be correct? The patient has been inhaling polluted air containing unusually high content of:

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Carboxyhaemoglobin ( COHb ) is a stable complex of carbon monoxide that forms in red blood cells when carbon monoxide is inhaled. COHb is also useful in monitoring the treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbaminohaemoglobin is a compound of haemoglobin and carbon dioxide, and is one of the forms in which carbon dioxide exists in the blood. Related Theory Acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning has a number of characteristics at autopsy. A high concentration of carboxyhaemoglobin (CO Hb ) is detected in the blood.