Abstract
Some biochemical effects determined on human blood after addition of a gas mixture composed of oxygen (βΌ96%) and ozone (βΌ4%) have been evaluated. Ozone was used in a mild concentration ranging between 0.21 and 1.68 mM. Within few minutes after rapid mixing of the equal gasβliquid volumes, the ozone was consumed because by instantaneously reacting with biomolecules, generating reactive oxygen species (particularly hydrogen peroxide) having very short lifetime and lipid oxidation products. The following results are oxygenβozone dose dependent: (1) The __p__O~2~ values have risen from about 40 up to 400 mmHg. (2) By testing the highest ozone concentration, the total antioxidant capacity of blood decreased within 1 min from 1.35 to 0.91 mM but regained its normal values within 20 min owing to the rapid reduction of oxidized antioxidants operated by erythrocytes. (3) Similarly, intraerythrocytic reduced glutathione after ozonation decreased from the initial value of 5.71 to 4.56 ΞΌmol/g Hb. (4) Both hemolysis and methemoglobin showed a negligible increase. Β© 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 20:133β138, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20124