Oxidation-Antioxidation-Reduction Processes in the Cell: Impacts of Environmental Pollution

Free radicals and reactive oxygen species are involved in toxic mechanisms of action of certain air pollutants, metals, ionizing and nonionizing radiations, alcohols, and pesticides being implicated. The most efficient preventive step to avoid the exogenous-free radical exposure would be to avoid as much as possible exposure to certain environmental pollutants. But since this is not always possible, protection could be obtained by adequate antioxidant balance. There is growing body of evidence that the involvement of antioxidants could prevent or decrease the damage generated by environmental sources of oxidizing species. Several examples are discussed in this article.