Chlorine dioxide: the toxicological truth and the risk of fake news

Abstract

Chlorine dioxide has been used as a disinfectant to treat water for human consumption, at the doses used in this scenario, human poisoning has not been described. Chemically, chlorine dioxide is characterized by reacting with various molecules, and generating oxidative stress in microorganisms, and in human cells. Chlorine dioxide is not a medicine, and it is not approved by regulatory agencies. Chlorine dioxide has been promoted as a miracle solution, yet there is no scientific evidence to back it up. On the other hand, there is evidence, that it can generate acute poisoning and possibly chronic poisoning in humans.

Keywords

• chlorine dioxide
• drug utilization
• poisoning