Toxins can impact respiration in various ways. Some toxins, such as carbon monoxide, bind to hemoglobin with a high affinity, preventing oxygen from being transported to cells. Others, like cyanide, inhibit cellular respiration by interfering with enzymes in the electron transport chain. Inhalation of toxic gases, such as chlorine or ammonia, can cause direct damage to the respiratory tract, leading to respiratory distress and failure.
