Chemical exposure-response relationship between air pollutants and reactive oxygen species in the human respiratory tract.

ABSTRACT: Air pollution can cause oxidative stress and adverse health effects such as asthma and other respiratory diseases, but the underlying chemical processes are not well characterized. Here we present chemical exposure-response relations between ambient concentrations of air pollutants and the production rates and concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of the human respiratory tract. In highly polluted environments, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) containing redox-active transition metals, quinones, and secondary organic aerosols can increase ROS concentrations in the ELF to levels characteristic for respiratory diseases. Ambient ozone readily saturates the ELF and can enhance oxidative stress by depleting antioxidants and surfactants. Chemical exp

SUBMITTER: Lakey PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5015057 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature