Biological Consequences of Oxidative Stress

Oxygen radicals are highly reactive forms of oxygen that upset the body's normal chemistry. They are created by the reaction of oxygen with radiation, air pollution, and other environmental agents, or generated in metabolism by one-electron transfers to an unstable oxygen molecule. Reactive species of oxygen and the damage they cause have been implicated in a variety of diseases. This volume focuses on their possible role in cardiovascular disease and cancer. It examines the molecular mechanisms by which oxidative damage occurs, the consequences of that damage, and some of the ways in which the damage might be mitigated. The book is based on a study group sponsored by the Conte Institute for Environmental Health, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.