Formation of singlet oxygen in the contaminated atmosphere

During the last three years the role of singlet oxygen has received increasing attention as an environmental oxidant [Refs. 4, 340, 356, 478, 479, 558, 659]. Atmospheric contaminants absorb solar radiation and 

It was found that benzaldehyde [355] (its presence in the contaminated atmosphere is a result of the oxidation of abundant aromatic hydrocarbons contained in automobile exhaust) may also participate in the formation of singlet oxygen by the transfer of energy. 

Singlet oxygen 102( dg) has been identified in urban atmospheres in thep.p.m. range [156,356]. The rapid ageing of polymers in contaminated atmospheres in towns should also be examined from the view point of oxidation involving singlet oxygen. 

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