Is chlorine dioxide carcinogenic?

Author: Ms. Rosa Shanahan  |  Last update: Sunday, May 4, 2025

There are no studies on cancer in humans exposed to chlorine dioxide or chlorite. Based on inadequate information in humans and in animals, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the EPA have determined that chlorine dioxide and sodium chlorite are not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity.

Can chlorine dioxide cause cancer?

Under the current guidelines (U.S. EPA, 1986), chlorine dioxide is classified as Group D; not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity because of inadequate data in humans and animals.

Is chlorine dioxide safe in drinking water?

Chlorine dioxide can be effectively used to disinfect drinking water without much alteration of palatability and can also be used to destroy pathogenic microbes, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi from vegetables and fruits.

Is it bad to breathe in chlorine dioxide?

* Breathing Chlorine Dioxide can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath.

How long does chlorine dioxide stay in the body?

About 43% of orally administered chlorine dioxide is eliminated in the urine and feces within 72 h. It is not excreted via the lungs.

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Can lungs recover from chlorine gas?

After acute exposure, pulmonary function usually returns toward baseline within 7 to 14 days. Although complete recovery generally occurs, symptoms and prolonged pulmonary impairment may persist. Exposure to chlorine can lead to reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS), a chemical irritant-induced type of asthma.

What is the common name for chlorine dioxide?

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2), also known as chlorine peroxide and chlorine(IV) oxide, is a low-boiling red-brown liquid and yellow-green gas. It has an odd number of valence electrons, which makes it an unusual stable free radical and therefore paramagnetic.

How long does it take for chlorine dioxide to dissipate?

Quick Removal Time

Some reports indicate a timeframe of 5-12 hours for a full odor removal. That means your space will be odorless in less than a day!

Is chlorine dioxide the same as hydrogen peroxide?

Chlorine dioxide is known for its “selectivity” in oxidation reactions, unlike hydrogen peroxide which has a broader spectrum of reactivity.

What are the disadvantages of chlorine dioxide?

Chronic health effects: The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to chlorine dioxide and can last for months or years: irritate the lungs; repeated exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, phlegm, and/or shortness of breath.

How to remove chlorine dioxide from water?

There are three methods that have proven to be very effective at removing chlorine from water.
  1. Evaporation.
  2. Filtration.
  3. Chemical neutralization.

Can you use chlorine dioxide for swimming pools?

Applications of Chlorine Dioxide in Pool Maintenance

Surface Cleaning: Chlorine Dioxide can be used to disinfect pool surfaces, including tiles, pool decks, and changing rooms. This prevents the growth of algae and biofilms, which can harbour pathogens and make surfaces slippery and hazardous.

What type of cancer does chlorine cause?

Animal studies have reported liver cancer in mice and male rats exposed to chlordane via ingestion. EPA has classified chlordane as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen.

How much chlorine dioxide is safe in drinking water?

The EPA has set the maximum concentration in the drinking water at 0.8 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for chlorine dioxide and 1.0 mg/L for chlorite ion. The concentrations of chlorine dioxide and chlorite ion in your drinking water, however, may be lower or higher than these levels.

Is chlorine dioxide natural?

It does not occur naturally in the environment. When added to water, chlorine dioxide forms chlorite ion, which is also a very reactive chemical. Chlorine dioxide is used as a bleaching agent at paper manufacturing plants, and in public water treatment facilities to make water safe to drink.

What are the symptoms of chlorine dioxide exposure?

Signs and symptoms
  • Blurred vision or eye tearing.
  • Burning feeling in the nose, throat, lungs, and eyes.
  • Coughing and/or coughing up white to pink-colored fluid.
  • Chest tightness.
  • Breathing problems, shortness of breath, or rapid and shallow breathing.
  • Respiratory failure (too much carbon dioxide in your body)

Is chlorine dioxide safe in mouthwash?

Mouthwash with Chlorine Dioxide

Chlorine dioxide has been used in drinking water to safely disinfect and deodorize it, so small amounts of the ingredient are usually harmless if ingested. If you're rinsing with a mouthwash containing chlorine dioxide be sure it does not exceed the recommended dose of .

What does chlorine gas do to a person?

Acute exposure at high levels causes dyspnea, violent cough, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, headache, chest pain, abdominal discomfort, and corneal burns, in addition to the same symptoms of low-level acute exposure. Chronic exposure to chlorine gas can lead to chest pain, cough, sore throat, and hemoptysis.

Is chlorine dioxide a sanitizer?

It is a disinfectant similar to bleach and is unsafe when used in large amounts. Chlorine dioxide kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Very small amounts are used in public water treatment facilities. At high doses, it can damage red blood cells and the lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Is chlorine dioxide safe for skin?

It is a true keratolytic and anti-inflammatory, but is non-toxic to human tissue due to its unique mechanism of action.

Is bleach a carcinogen in the CDC?

How likely is chlorine to cause cancer? The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have not classified chlorine as to its human carcinogenicity.

Should I go to the hospital if I inhaled chlorine gas?

Symptomatic patients complaining of persistent shortness of breath, severe cough, or chest tightness should be admitted to the hospital and observed until symptom-free (pulmonary injury may progress for several hours).

What to do if you swallow pool water and your stomach hurts?

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a provider. Do not give water or milk if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

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