The air, we breath have many types of gases out of which 21% is oxygen. When we inhale, much of the oxygen present in the air binds with the haemoglobin in the red blood cells and is transported to various cells where it helps to produce energy. However, some inhaled oxygen also turns into free radicals. Free radicals are highly instable and harmful to us. Hence our body produces antioxidants that neutralizes the free radicals. But, if we inhale more pure oxygen for a long time, it produces more free radicals and hence it is difficult for the antioxidants to neutralize all the free radicals. Hence, these unstable free radicals begin to bind with proteins in the red blood cells and the change the chemical structure. As a result, our immune system doesn't recognize the free radicals and begins to kill them. Besides this, free radicals begin to damage the DNA which can lead to cancer.
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