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Concerns With Chlorine Dioxide

In 1814 Sir Humphrey Davy created a yellowish-green gas with a pungent scent that resembled chlorine. He had discovered chlorine dioxide which can exist in gas or liquid form when mixed with a watery solution. In 2011 it's used to clean circuit boards, bleach paper, sterilize medical equipment, as a disinfectant and pesticide. However the use and storage of this compound does create some concerns.

  1. Storage Concerns

    • You cannot store chlorine dioxide in its gas state since it is extremely flammable and poses an explosion hazard if stored under pressure. However under the right conditions you can store the chlorine dioxide in its liquid state since the liquid form is more stable. Safely keep this liquid compound at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. The watery solution can only contain 1 percent chloride dioxide though. And you must keep it away from light and heat. Even when stored safely, the chemical breaks down into chlorine and oxygen over time.

    Manufacturing Concerns

    • Due to chlorine dioxide's dangerous instability in its gas formation, companies generally do not transport the chemical. Instead they manufacture it on-site which creates concerns of its own. The creation of chlorine dioxide can generate toxic vapors. If concentrations of chlorine dioxide in the air rise above 10 percent, you create an explosion hazard. To ensure safety when making and handling the gas, employees must be trained and use the proper personal protective equipment.

    Contact Concerns

    • When using chlorine dioxide as a liquid disinfectant, some of the chlorine dioxide gas may escape from the watery solution. When this gas comes in contact with your eyes, it causes irritation, resulting in watering eyes and blurred sight. Your skin can absorb this gas, injuring tissue and blood cells. Always use chlorine dioxide products in a well-ventilated environments. If your disinfectant degenerates into chlorine and oxygen and you get some on your skin, the chlorine can cause skin irritations and burns.

    Inhalation Concerns

    • If you inhale chlorine dioxide gas, you may experience coughing, a sore throat, bronchial spasms and severe headaches. You may even develop pulmonary edema --- fluid in your lungs --- which can lead to respiratory failure if left untreated. Symptoms of pulmonary edema include: anxiety, coughing, excessive sweating, difficulty breathing and feel as if you're drowning. Continual exposure to chlorine dioxide results in bronchitis.

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