title: Role of reactive oxygen species in occupational and environmental obstructive pulmonary diseases.
abstract: Free radicals and their metabolites, also called reactive oxygen species (ROS), have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Because of its continuous exposure to toxic pollutants in the ambient air, such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, and mineral dusts, the lung is very vulnerable to ROS-induced injury. In this review, the role of ROS in the pathogenesis of obstructive lung diseases is reviewed. A central theme in this review is the pivotal role of transition metals such as iron, vanadium, and nickel in ROS-induced cell damage, not only in exposure to mineral dusts but also in cigarette smoke and air pollution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Antwerp, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Klaveren
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nemery
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D004391:Dust; D018876:Environmental Illness; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology; D008903:Minerals; D009784:Occupational Diseases; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D008903:Minerals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012906:Smoke