Fotokemias

Fotokemias is a term that appears in scattered medical and chemical glossaries to denote phenomena arising where light interacts with chemical substances in the blood or blood-borne compounds. The term is not part of widely adopted English medical nomenclature, and its definition varies by source.

In some sources, fotokemias refers to photochemical processes taking place in blood or plasma, such as light-induced chemical changes of pigments or circulating molecules. In other contexts, the word has been used to describe broader photochemical or photobiological phenomena in which light exposure leads to changes in the chemical makeup of blood, sometimes in connection with photosensitization or photodynamic reactions. However, these usages are not standardized and may overlap with established terms such as photochemistry, photosensitization, photodynamic therapy, or photolysis.

Because of the lack of consensus, when encountering the term, readers are advised to consult the specific source for its intended meaning and to prefer descriptive terms that specify the light wavelengths, photosensitizers, and chemical targets involved.

See also: Photochemistry; Photosensitivity; Photodynamic therapy; Hematology.