Applying chlorine dioxide as a disinfectant mist in occupied areas offers a broadly useful tool to help fight contagion issues we face with COVID-19.

Chlorine dioxide has many unique characteristics, but its most important one right now is its high level of safety, in appropriate concentrations, for use around people while having rapid toxicity against a broad range of pathogens. Human cells are provided frontline protection by their larger size and by glutathione and other substances in the body. Chlorine dioxide also does not create the carcinogenic and environmentally harmful byproducts generated by many other disinfectants. It oxidizes, rather than chlorinates, and then converts mostly to inert salt.

Historically, chlorine dioxide has been difficult to work with because industrial generation methods were complex and hazardous. However, advancements in technologies have made many safe products now available at the consumer level. There are several products on the EPA List N of disinfectants to use against SARS-CoV-2 that contain chlorine dioxide (or sodium chlorite, which is used to generate chlorine dioxide), and some are registered as safe for use in the air in occupied spaces. Additionally, chlorine dioxide in a dental mouth rinse that was tested against SARS-CoV-19 showed effectiveness of 98% in 30 seconds.

Industry regulations approve air concentrations as safe at 0.1 to 0.3 ppm. Chlorine dioxide requires far lower concentrations to be effective than many other disinfectants, and testing has confirmed that at extremely low levels it is still remarkably effective against pathogens that cause respiratory illnesses. Studies with low airborne concentrations have been conducted in several occupied environments, including medical centers, schools and cafeterias, with significant success.

Airborne chlorine dioxide is an extremely valuable tool to help curb contagion in our medical centers, ease pressures with mask-wearing in schools, continue re-opening the economy more safely, and reduce virus spread in homes among family members. Airborne applications with chlorine dioxide can be implemented very quickly through tools as simple as common ultrasonic humidifiers and fine-mist spray bottles, and also integrated into large HVAC systems. Chlorine dioxide liquid disinfectant that can be mixed by hand costs only about $1/gallon at 500 ppm, with even less cost for dilutions for humidifiers.

Many researchers have provided valuable background on airborne applications, and chlorine dioxide manufacturers have been continually developing new innovations. We are in a position to refine and leverage existing knowledge for very widespread benefit for many people.