Hyperoxia

hy·per·ox·i·a -

Excess oxygen in tissues and organs or a higher than normal oxygen tension, such as that produced by breathing air or oxygen at greater than atmospheric pressures.

Hyperoxia is known as an inducing factor in the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). The overburdening of the mitochondrial electron transfer chain, which is responsible for the generation of energy in cells, causes leakage of free energy to surrounding macromolecules. This leaked energy is responsible for configurational changes in proteins and nucleic acids that can inactive the molecules and lead to cellular dysfunction.