Photolysis of a mixture of NaNO2 with NaCl with an adsorbed coating of 1-oleoyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (OPPC) is shown to lead to oxidation of the OPPC. This oxidation "from the bottom up" is due to the generation of the OH free radical from nitrite ion photochemistry in the presence of water and its addition to the OPPC double bond. Such chemistry may be important in the lower atmosphere.