Free radical aspects of the ozone influence on blood.

Ozone is one of the most potent toxic agents. The noxious effects of its influence on living organisms appear mainly in the lungs and blood. A considerable role in its action is ascribed to free radicals. In this study the ESR method was applied to indirectly demonstrate the free radical effects, as well as the significance of ascorbate in ozonizing the blood. The effects of ozonizing the blood in vitro indicate the existence of a "local" protective mechanism of the blood cells, while in vivo they point out the consumption of ascorbate in "scavenging" of free radicals.