Pollution is a major environmental hazard that affects the health of people worldwide. All pollutants are toxic in their own right and often participate in processes resulting in the formation of free radicals. Monitoring free radicals and other pollutants with unpaired electrons (such as transition metals) in the environment is of critical importance and can be detected with Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy allowing their measurement and monitoring their distribution as well as aiding in clean-up strategies.

EPR is the only analytical technique capable of detecting species with unpaired electrons, in a direct and non-invasive manner. It can be used to detect, quantify and monitor the intrinsic generation of short-lived radicals, such as hydroxyl radicals, as well as environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs). EPR is therefore extremely useful for tracking free radicals in the environment, in addition to detecting toxic metal ions in the air, groundwater and soil, and monitoring their uptake by plants. By furthering this knowledge, researchers can also increase their understanding of the behavior of free radicals in the body and their impacts on human disease.