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Chemical asphyxiates primarily interfere with the body's ability to oxygenate the blood and deliver it to tissues, which underscores their impact on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. These substances can block oxygen transport, disrupt cellular respiration, or inhibit the proper functioning of hemoglobin, leading to hypoxia—a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.

The respiratory system is directly affected as it is responsible for the intake of oxygen and expiration of carbon dioxide. When chemical asphyxiates are present, they can cause respiratory failure or damage to lung tissues, greatly diminishing the oxygen supply to the bloodstream. Simultaneously, the cardiovascular system is impacted because it facilitates the circulation of oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. If the heart is not receiving enough oxygen, it can lead to arrhythmias, decreased cardiac output, or even cardiac arrest.

In contrast, other systems like the digestive and urinary systems, although they do rely on proper oxygenation, are not the immediate focus of asphyxiation effects. The neurological and muscular systems can suffer secondary consequences due to lack of oxygen, but the primary impact from chemical asphyxiates is on the systems that are critical for gas exchange and blood circulation. The integumentary and endocrine systems are also less directly influenced