Title: Automotive catalytic converters and environmental pollution: role of the platinum group elements in the redox reactions and free radicals production

Authors: Claudio Botre, Marina Tosi, Franco Mazzei, Beatrice Bocca, Francesco Petrucci, Alessandro Alimonti

Addresses: Department of Pharmacology and General Physiology, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy. ' Department of Pharmacology and General Physiology, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy. ' Biosensors Laboratory Group, Department of Chemistry and Technology of Biologically Active Substances, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy. ' Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy. ' Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy. ' Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy

Abstract: The concentrations of Platinum Group Elements (PGE) (Pt, Rh, Pd and Ir) in the atmosphere of urban areas have been progressively increased as a consequence of their release from the automotive catalytic converters and their adsorption in the particulate material. The PGEs catalytic activity is therefore extended also outside the vehicle converters. In the environment, PGEs come in contact with inorganic and organic structures, in particular with living organisms. Beside the photochemical smog (mainly ozone production/degradation), several redox reactions, involving free radicals and promoted by PGEs, can become responsible for interactions at the metabolic pathways level. The environmental monitoring confirms the increasing concentrations of ozone and of PGEs in urban air. To approach such a complex problem, in vitro experiments have been performed on enzyme kinetics and on antioxidants in living systems. Preliminary data on enzymatic systems (NADH) and on antioxidants (ascorbic acid) in the presence of some PGEs are reported.

Keywords: ascorbic acid; catalysis; cyclic voltammetry; free radicals; nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced form; ozone; platinum group elements; SF-ICP-MS; environment; health; automotive catalytic converters; environmental pollution; redox reactions; air pollution; air quality; urban areas; enzyme kinetics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2007.012229

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2007 Vol.1 No.1, pp.142 - 152

Published online: 29 Jan 2007 *

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