Efficacy of chlorine dioxide

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is an antimicrobial recognized for its disinfectant properties since the early 1900's (EPA, 2005). This compound effectively kills microorganisms including bacteria, viruses or fungi on inanimate objects, foods, and other surfaces (EPA, 2005). Chlorine dioxide can be generated in a gas or liquid form and smells like chlorine bleach (EPA, 2005). In 1967, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first registered the liquid form of chlorine dioxide for use as a disinfectant and sanitizer and in 1988, EPA registered chlorine dioxide gas as a sterilant (EPA, 2005). The mode of action of chlorine dioxide against microorganisms is to disrupt transport of nutrients across the cell wall (EPA, 2005). ClO2 is considered more effective against microbes than aqueous chlorine solutions (Cutter and Dorsa, 1996).