Potential for misidentification of environmentally persistent free radicals as molecular pollutants in particulate matter.

ABSTRACT: Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) have been shown to form on the surfaces of various types of transition metal-containing particulate matter (PM), and it has been demonstrated they are capable of initiating adverse health impacts. Following sonification and solvent extraction for chemical analysis, they are partially converted to molecular species. Alcoholic solvents extracted the EPFRs with near 100% efficiency, while nonpolar hydrocarbon solvents exhibited <20% efficiency and dichloromethane exhibited 20-55% efficiency. The extracted radicals reacted in solution to form multiple molecular reaction products including catechol, hydroquinone, phenol, chlorinated phenols, dibenzo-p-dioxin, and dibenzofuran. This suggests that EPFRs in environmental samples are indistinguishabl

SUBMITTER: Truong H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4315178 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature