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The Role of Stable Free Radicals, Metals and PAHs of Airborne Particulate Matter in Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress and Carcinogenicity

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Urban Airborne Particulate Matter

Part of the book series: Environmental Science and Engineering ((ENVSCIENCE))

Abstract

Ambient airborne particulate matter (PM) is considered as the most important pollutant for adverse health effects in the human respiratory system. PM is known to contain a large number of toxic and carcinogenic substances which in the lung’s alveoli cause oxidative stress, inflammation and cytotoxic damage leading to malignant neoplasms. Studies in recent years focused on transition metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), stable quinoid and carbonaceous radicals. In the presence of oxygen and through redox reactions PM promote the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially hydroxyl radicals (HO•), which are linked to lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage to peptides and cellular and mitochondrial DNA. In this study we investigated the most important mechanisms of ROS generation from airborne traffic-related PM, and exhaust soot from diesel and gasoline vehicles (DEP, GEP). Using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) we examined the presence of persistent quinoid free radicals and we studied the direct production of superoxide anion (O •−2 ), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the damaging hydroxyl radicals (HO•) by PM extracts. Also, we examined by EPR the formation of oxidative damage to guanosine nucleobase by PM in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Experimental evidence shows that redox-active transition metals, persistent redox-cycling quinoids, and PAHs contained in the PM act synergistically, producing ROS. These ROS are considered the main mechanisms for the cytotoxic and carcinogenic potential of PM, leading to oxidative stress, pulmonary tissue injuries and DNA damage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, University of Athens, University Campus Zografou, 15784, Athens, Greece

    Athanasios Valavanidis, Konstantinos Fiotakis & Thomie Vlachogianni

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  1. Athanasios Valavanidis
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  2. Konstantinos Fiotakis
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  3. Thomie Vlachogianni
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Correspondence to Athanasios Valavanidis .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Atmosphäre und Umwelt, AG Umweltanalytik, Universität Frankfurt, Altenhöfer Allee 1, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany

    Fathi Zereini

  2. Inst. Environmental Studies (IES), Adaptation and Impacts Research, University of Toronto, Willcocks Street 33, Toronto, M5S 3E8, Ontario, Canada

    Clare L. S. Wiseman

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Valavanidis, A., Fiotakis, K., Vlachogianni, T. (2010). The Role of Stable Free Radicals, Metals and PAHs of Airborne Particulate Matter in Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress and Carcinogenicity. In: Zereini, F., Wiseman, C. (eds) Urban Airborne Particulate Matter. Environmental Science and Engineering(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12278-1_21

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