A realistic evaluation of the action of ozone on whole human blood.

We have clarified the role of the ozone concentration in relation to the resistance of human erythrocytes in whole human blood or in blood diluted either in saline or in distilled water. Spectrophotometric data related to haemoglobin were evaluated by exposing samples of fresh human blood directly to ozone doses (ratio 1:1 volume), within the therapeutic range (0.21-1.68 mM) and to one toxic dose (3.36 mM). Furthermore, the same determinations have been carried out after previous dilution of the same blood with either pure water or physiological saline (1 ml blood + 29 ml diluent) followed by ozonation with the above reported ozone doses. Addition of either saline or water implies a dilution of plasma antioxidants and also total haemolysis after water dilution. Particularly the latter case represents a most unphysiological situation because the osmotic shock causes the solubilization of the erythrocytic content. While it is possible to demonstrate that after haemolysis there is an ozone-concentration dependent transformation of some oxyhaemoglobin to methaemoglobin, no such process occurs after ozonation of whole blood. The results of this study fully confirm our previous data that judicious ozone doses neither damage erythrocytes, nor induce oxidation of intracellular haemoglobin. We hope that our conclusions will definitively clarify the absence of toxicity of ozonetherapy.