production stimulus
Last reviewed 01/2018
Free radicals may be produced by:
- chemical agents e.g. carbon tetrachloride
- radiation exposure; particularly prone to form hydroxyl and hydrogen ions from water hydrolysis
- oxygen toxicity; occurs with excessive exposure to gases containing oxygen; notable example is that of retrolental fibroplasia
- inflammation; free radicals are deliberately produced by leukocytes to destroy bacteria within autophagolysosomes
- aging; production may become more prevalent due to decreasing efficacy of anti-aging measures