SAFETY ISSUES
A remaining concern is safety. So far, at least anecdotally, the dosages of chlorine oxides as administered orally per the acidified sodium chlorite protocol have produced no definite toxicity. Some have taken this as often as 1 to 3 times weekly and on the surface seem to suffer no ill effects. To be certain if this is safe more research is warranted for such long term or repeated use. The concern is that too much or too frequent administration of oxidants could excessively deplete the body’s reductants and promote oxidative stress. One useful way to monitor this may be to periodically check methemoglobin levels in frequent users. Sodium chlorite, as found in municipal water supplies after disinfection by chorine dioxide, has been studied and proven safe. [79a-79i] Animal studies using much higher oral or topical doses have proven relatively safe. [80a-80p] In a suicide attempt 10g of sodium chlorite taken orally caused nearly fatal kidney failure and refractory methemoglobinemia. [81a] Inhalation or aerosol exposure to chlorine dioxide gas is highly irritating and generally not recommended. [82a-82g] Special precautions must be employed in cases of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency disease, as these patients are especially sensitive to oxidants of all kinds. [83a-83g] Nevertheless, oral acidified sodium chlorite solutions might even be found safe [84a,84b] and effective in them, but probably will need to be administered at lower doses.