Living organisms are continuously exposed to environmental pollutants. Depending on their state, pollutants can be taken up by ingestion, inhalation, or contact with the skin. Because the skin is an interface between the body and the environment, it is chronically exposed to several forms of stress such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation and other environmental oxidants such as cigarette smoke and ozone (O3). UVB and, to a lesser degree, UVA induce various skin pathological conditions, including erythema, edema, hyperplasia, ‘‘sunburn cell’’ formation, photoaging, and photocarcinogenesis. There is abundant information that reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radicals are involved in UV-induced skin damage, both by direct effects of UV and by subsequent phagocyte infiltration and activation. Oxidative environmental pollutants, such as cigarette smoke, O3, and oxides of nitrogen that have been studied in the respiratory tract, also represent a potential oxidant stress to the skin. In order of importance, the skin is the second most frequent route by which chemicals can enter into the body. The skin is the major target of liquid and gaseous pollutants and the pollutant that reacts most specifically with the cutaneous tissues beside UV radiation, hydrocarbon, and organic compounds in O3. Ozone represents one of the major oxidants in photochemical smog, levels being highest in heavily polluted areas where exposure to UV is also high. In the last decade, many studies have shown the toxic effect of O3 on the skin.
Valacchi G. Effect of Ozone on Cutaneous Tissues
VALACCHI, Giuseppe
2010
Abstract
Living organisms are continuously exposed to environmental pollutants. Depending on their state, pollutants can be taken up by ingestion, inhalation, or contact with the skin. Because the skin is an interface between the body and the environment, it is chronically exposed to several forms of stress such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation and other environmental oxidants such as cigarette smoke and ozone (O3). UVB and, to a lesser degree, UVA induce various skin pathological conditions, including erythema, edema, hyperplasia, ‘‘sunburn cell’’ formation, photoaging, and photocarcinogenesis. There is abundant information that reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radicals are involved in UV-induced skin damage, both by direct effects of UV and by subsequent phagocyte infiltration and activation. Oxidative environmental pollutants, such as cigarette smoke, O3, and oxides of nitrogen that have been studied in the respiratory tract, also represent a potential oxidant stress to the skin. In order of importance, the skin is the second most frequent route by which chemicals can enter into the body. The skin is the major target of liquid and gaseous pollutants and the pollutant that reacts most specifically with the cutaneous tissues beside UV radiation, hydrocarbon, and organic compounds in O3. Ozone represents one of the major oxidants in photochemical smog, levels being highest in heavily polluted areas where exposure to UV is also high. In the last decade, many studies have shown the toxic effect of O3 on the skin.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
