A physicochemical investigation on the effects of ozone on blood

Ozonation of either human whole blood or saline-washed erythrocytes causes considerable damage to the latter and this result has opened a controversy. With the benefit of hindsight, it appears logical that once erythrocytes are deprived of the potent antioxidants of plasma, they become very sensitive to the oxidant effects of ozone. The aim of the present work was to perform a physical–chemical evaluation of some critical parameters able to clarify this issue. We have ascertained that when whole blood is exposed to the appropriate ozone doses used in human therapy, no damage ensues while saline-washed erythrocytes undergo conspicuous haemolysis. The dogma that ozone is always toxic is incorrect because its reactivity below the concentration of 80 μg/mL can be controlled by the plasmatic antioxidant system.