Environmental Oxidative Stress – Environmental Sources of ROS

Abstract

Environmental factors are known sources for oxidative stress. In consequence of the numerous influences that define our environment, environmental oxidative stress can derive from several sources. Such sources can be categorised with respect to their mechanisms of action: Where are the reactive oxygen species generated? Where do they take effect? Are they generated chemically by a noxa, via a target biomolecule or are they physiologically generated by cells? Pollution, non-ionising (ultraviolet and infrared) and ionising radiations are known sources of environmental oxidative stress.