A short review on environmental distribution and toxicity of the environmentally persistent free radicals

Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals (EPFRs) are usually generated by the electron transfer of a certain radical precursor on the surface of a carrier. They are characterized with high activity, wide migration range, and relatively long half-life period. In this review, we summarized the literat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere (Oxford) 2023-11, Vol.340, p.139922-139922, Article 139922
Main Authors: Yi, Jing-Feng, Lin, Ze-Zhao, Li, Xing, Zhou, Yue-Qiao, Guo, Ying
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Environmentally persistent free radicals
Human health
Oxidative stress
Reactive oxygen species
Toxicity
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Summary:Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals (EPFRs) are usually generated by the electron transfer of a certain radical precursor on the surface of a carrier. They are characterized with high activity, wide migration range, and relatively long half-life period. In this review, we summarized the literature on EPFRs published since 2010, including their environmental occurrence and potential cytotoxicity and biotoxicity. The EPFRs in the atmosphere are the most abundant in the environment, mainly generated from the combustion of raw materials or biochar, and the C-center types (quinones, semiquinones radicals, etc.) may exist for a relatively long time. These EPFRs can transform into other substances (such as reactive oxygen species, ROS) under the influence of environmental factors, and partly enter soil and water by wet and dry deposition of particulate matter, which may promote the generation of EPFRs in those media. The wide distribution of EPFRs in the environment may lead to their exposure to biota including humans, resulting in cytotoxicity and biotoxicity. The EPFRs can influence the normal redox process of the biota, and generate a large number of free radicals like ROS. Exposure to EPFRs may change the expression of gene and activity of metabolic enzymes, and damage the cells, as well as some organs such as the lung, trachea, and heart. However, due to the difficulty in sample extraction, identification, and quantification of the specific EPFR individuals, the toxicity and exposure evaluation of biota are still limited which merits study in the future. [Display omitted] •The occurrence of EPFRs in the environment is influenced by temperature, humidity, light, etc.•Indirect and combined toxicity are the characteristics of EPFR hazards to biota•Oxidative stress is one of the main harms caused by EPFRs to biota.•The risk from EPFR exposure to humans cannot be ignored, especially those from atmosphere.
ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139922