Is Chlorine Dioxide Safe and Environmentally Friendly?
Yes. There are many reasons why Chlorine Dioxide is safe and friendly. Environmentally, the byproducts formed when using Chlorine Dioxide are benign. Compare this to chlorinated byproducts formed when using Chlorine or Hypochlorite and you can see why so many Pulp and Paper Mills use Chlorine Dioxide. They have virtually eliminated trichloromethanes, chloroacetic acids, chlorinated dioxins and furans from their waste streams, all of which used to pose significant risks in the environment. In it’s reaction, Chlorine Dioxide oxidizes (removes electrons) other compounds and is itself reduced (gains electrons) to the Chlorite anion ( CLO2 ). Toxicological studies have shown the Chlorine Dioxide and it’s disinfection by-product, Chlorite, pose no significant risk to human, animal or fish health. Chlorine Dioxide was first introduced for drinking water disinfection in 1944 at the Niagara Falls. Today over 1000 municipal water treatment processes use Chlorine Dioxide.
