SOME CONSEQUENCES OF OZONE EXPOSURE ON HEALTH

The reaction of ozone with polyunsaturated fatty acids from the surfac tant factor and pulmonary epithelial cells produces different reaction products which can cross the alveolar-capillary barrier and reach dis tant structures. Although only a few papers claim extrapulmonary chang es in animals exposed to this gas, some neurological deficits, such as complaints of fatigue, lethargy, headache in humans, as well as signi ficant disarrangements in the sleep pattern related to biochemical cha nges in the brain have been referred to in animals exposed to ozone. I n the present review, the molecular configuration and the reaction of ozone at different lung levels are related to impairment at the respir atory and blood systems, in order to elucidate the mechanisms by which this gas or its reaction products, such as free radicals, prostagland ins and others can cross the alveolar-capillary and hemato-encephalic barriers, and to explain those neurological effects.