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People living at sea level have around 5 million RBC per cubic millimeter of their blood whereas those living at an altitude of 5400 metres have around 8 million. This is because at high altitude
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- atmospheric O2 level is less and hence more RBCs are needed to absorb the required amount of O2 to survive
- there is more UV radiation which enhances RBC production
- people eat more nutritive food, therefore more RBCs are formed
- people get pollution - free air to breathe and more oxygen is available
Correct Option: A
At an altitude of 5400 meters the low atmospheric pressure of O2 will be very low, so the solubility of oxygen in the blood will be very less hence the oxygen carried by each RBC will be too less. But to fulfill the oxygen requirement of the body, blood has to carry more oxygen to the body tissue and this is done by the increased no. of RBCs.
