Chlorine Dioxide - A Powerful Sanitiser
Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) is a powerful sanitiser that has been relied on for over a century to make drinking water safe and help prevent disease. It kills germs extremely quickly, and it is particularly effective against germs that have developed resistance to other sanitisers. Chlorine dioxide works by oxidation – it steals electrons from the acid inside the cell wall of microorganisms, destroying the cell and killing the organism. It is also able to react with the proteins that are responsible for enzymes used by microorganisms to break down other molecules, preventing them from functioning and causing rapid bacterial kills.
It has excellent residual disinfection action and a superior ability to control biofilms in water systems. It is about ten times more soluble in water than chlorine, and it can be produced on site using relatively simple and inexpensive equipment. It is non-corrosive to equipment and pipes, and it doesn’t form carcinogenic trihalomethanes like chlorine bleach or bromide that get washed down the drain and deposited in the environment.
The most common use for chlorine dioxide is for the disinfection of public water supplies. It is a cost-effective alternative to chlorine bleach and has the advantage of not producing any chloramines or trihalomethanes, which are known carcinogens. It is also highly effective at disinfecting wastewater and reducing organic matter in the water, making it an important ingredient in advanced biological sewage treatment systems.
Chlorine dioxide is also widely used in pulp and paper processing as an odour control agent and in industrial water treatment to reduce the formation of scale, corrosion and sludge. It is an efficient and economical substitute for chlorine in these applications because it does not react with organic compounds in the same way as chlorine. It can be used at higher concentrations and is a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chlorine.
It is also used in food production as a flavour enhancer and odour control agent, as well as in animal byproducts industries for odour control and to destroy phenols. It can be used as a sanitiser on equipment, surfaces and rooms, and as a deodoriser for cars and boats. Chlorine dioxide can be bought in a convenient self-generating package that is activated with water and then left in the vehicle overnight to generate chlorine gas to sanitise and deodorise it.
Studies show that the likelihood of consuming CDS to prevent COVID-19 is significantly higher in households with health science students, presumably due to these individuals being more familiar with the scientific evidence surrounding its benefits. It is worth noting that this study did not explore the reasons why this association exists, but further research into how people obtain health information in their homes and families could provide insight. This is important because the dissemination of health information in family units is likely to be influenced by a combination of personal and cultural factors.