Ozone and its inherent risk to the human cardio vascular systems:

A presentation given by Carlos A. Garcia PhD.

Richard Lonardo
Dr. Ewane
04/27/2009
 Ozone and its inherent risk to the human cardio vascular systems, is the key issue raised by

Carlos A. Garcia PhD. during speech given to the Houston Community College. While at the North

West campus Dr. Garcia discusses the potential biological issues which can arise during heightened

ozone levels which occur during particular times of the year. More specifically he isolated pathways

where the direct inhalation of ozone could induce cardio vascular risk in humans, based on trauma

evidence and a study performed on rats.

Dr. Garcia’s data was not fully presentable due to technical issues. He, however, did

generalize particular instances where cardio trauma can be directly correlated to occurrences of

increased ozone. In particular, he related the evidence found by studies performed on rats in

controlled environments. He also outlined the source of the ozone, as an air pollutant which results

from a chemical reaction of CO2 exhaust byproducts and excess UV light from the sun.

The bio-chemistry of the inhalation of ozone was incomplete and lead to some questions on

specific chemistry within certain biological systems and the potential of the ozonylisis effects on

many of the molecular structure contained within. More specifically, the potential cleavage of

important carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins as well as additional changes in their

chemical structures. The information given mainly focused on the increase of TNF-α and the

inflammatory affects as a result. This particular cytokine was consistently found in ozone induced

changes in lung function and is the bases for further research and corrective actions post injury.

The correlation of ozone induced lung injury and heightened ozone levels in the lower

atmosphere isolates and identifies a quantifiable risk from air pollution. One could certainly continue

research of the introduction of excess ozone in biological systems and its potential chemistry to an

otherwise non-inclusive environment. Ozonolyis is a powerful mechanism in aliphatic chemistry and

could be significant in the manipulation of highly important biological pathways.