What to do if you inhale chlorine dioxide gas

Chlorine dioxide is a highly irritating and toxic gas, but it has a wide range of uses, the most typical of which is sterilization and disinfection. This is because chlorine dioxide is toxic. If you accidentally inhale too much, it will cause great harm to your health. In serious cases, you need to seek medical treatment. Don't take it lightly. So, what should you do if you inhale chlorine dioxide gas? Let’s take a closer look below.

There is no specific antidote for chlorine dioxide poisoning, so prevention is the key. Once inhaled or poisoned, leave the poisoning environment as soon as possible. Emphasis is placed on comprehensive treatment, adequate rest, symptomatic and supportive treatment, correction of hypoxia, maintenance of water and electrolyte balance, and support for important organ functions.

Chlorine dioxide mechanism of action

Chlorine dioxide has the functions of sterilization, bleaching, deodorization, disinfection and preservation.

The mechanism of action is mainly oxidation. The electronic structure of chlorine dioxide molecules is unsaturated, with 19 electrons in the outer layer. It has a strong oxidizing force, mainly attacking electron-rich (or electron-donating) atomic groups (such as sulfhydryl-containing enzymes and sulfides, chlorides), forcibly plundering electrons, making them inactive and changing their properties, thereby achieving its purpose.

1. Sterilization mechanism

Chlorine dioxide has a strong ability to adsorb and penetrate cell walls, releasing atomic oxygen to oxidize the sulfhydryl-containing enzymes in the cells to kill bacteria.

2. Bleaching effect

Chlorine dioxide bleaching achieves the purpose of decomposing pigments by releasing atomic oxygen and producing hypochlorite. Using it as a bleaching agent instead of chlorine, chlorate, etc. can prevent and avoid oxidation with fibers and reduce fiber strength, so the effect is more comprehensive.

3. Deodorizing effect

Chlorine dioxide can deodorize because it can undergo a dehydration reaction with odorous substances (such as H2S, -SOH, -NH2, etc.) and rapidly oxidize and convert the odorous substances into other substances. It can also prevent methionine from breaking down into ethylene and destroy the ethylene that has already been formed, thereby delaying decay and killing microorganisms without reacting with fatty acids or destroying the food structure.