OXIDES OF CHLORINE AS DISINFECTANTS
All bacteria have been shown to be incabable of growing in any medium in which the oxidants (electron grabbers) out-number the reductants (electron donors). [13a] Therefore, oxidants are at least bacteriostatic and at most are bacteriocidal. [13b] Many oxidants have been proven useful as antibacterial disinfectants. [13c,13d] Hypochlorites (ClO-) are commonly used as bleaching agents, as swimming pool sanitizers, and as disinfectants. At low concentrations chlorine dioxide (ClO2) has been shown to kill many types of bacteria [14a-14j], viruses [15a-15L] and protozoa [16a-16f]. Ozone (O3) or chlorine dioxide (ClO2) are often used to disinfect public water supplies or to sanitize and deodorize waste water. [17a-17L] Sodium chlorite (NaClO2) or chlorine dioxide (ClO2) solutions are used in certain mouth washes to clear mouth odors and oral bacteria. [18a-18i] Chlorine dioxide sanitizes food preparation facilities. [19a] Acidified sodium chlorite is FDA approved as a spray in the meat packing industry to sanitized meat. [20a-20g] This can also be used to sanitize vegetables and other foods. [21a,21b] Farmers use this to cleanse the udders of cows to prevent mastitis, [22a,22b,22c] or to rid eggs of pathogenic bacteria. Chlorine dioxide can be used to disinfect endoscopes. [23a] Oxidants such as iodine, various peroxides, permanganate and chlorine dioxide can be applied topically to the skin to treat infections caused by bacteria or fungi. [24a-24d]