What are the hazards of chlorine dioxide to the human body?

In our lives, there are bacteria and viruses everywhere, so we need to do adequate disinfection at home or at work to avoid illness. Nowadays, the disinfectant with a relatively high application rate is chlorine dioxide. If you look at it simply, chlorine dioxide is a gas that appears orange-yellow, and sometimes yellow-green. So, what are the hazards of chlorine dioxide to the human body?

As a strong oxidant, chlorine dioxide can effectively destroy trace organic pollutants in water bodies, such as benzopyrene, anthraquinone, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, phenol, chlorophenol, cyanide, hydrogen sulfide and organic sulfides. It does not undergo chlorination reaction when oxidizing organic matter. Due to its high efficiency, safety and non-toxicity, ClO2 has been used for drinking water treatment in the United States for more than 50 years.

Chlorine dioxide with oxidizing effect is used as a microbial killer in industrial cooling water treatment, dairy industry, meat processing industry, and other food and beverage industries. Used as a bleaching agent in the pulp and paper industry. , used as a disinfectant in municipal sewage treatment. Industrial wastewater treatment facilities also use chlorine dioxide because it is selective for certain compounds, including phenols, sulfides, cyanides, thiosulfates, mercaptans, etc. Chlorine dioxide is used by the oil and gas industry when drilling downhole and is a harsh additive.

However, it should be noted that it is obviously irritating and corrosive in gaseous or high-concentration liquid state, which can cause a series of respiratory system symptoms, and in severe cases, lead to pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. However, when used for water disinfection, it is harmless to humans because it dissolves in water, undergoes chemical changes and has low concentrations.