Exposure to chlorine gas (Cl2) causes occupational asthma that we hypothesized occurs through the induction of airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness by oxidative damage. Respiratory mechanics and airway responsiveness to methacholine were assessed in A/J mice 24 hours after a 5-minute exposure to 100, 200, 400, or 800 ppm Cl2 and 2 and 7 days after inhalation of 400 ppm Cl2. Airway...

In human subjects 15-min exposure to 0.5-1.0 ppm chlorine gas causes a nasal obstructive response in the absence of a marked sensation of irritation. The current investigation was designed to assess the response of the mouse for comparative purposes. Respiratory physiological responses were measured in female C57Bl/6J mice exposed to 0.8 to 4.0 ppm chlorine gas. Chlorine was a potent sensory ir...

Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of sulfur dioxide (O-10 ppm) and chlorine (O-15 ppm) on ozone and nitric oxide concentrations in irradiated mixtures of nitrogen dioxide (1-5 ppm) and air. The mixtures were irradiated by ultraviolet fluorescent lamps while flowing at a steady speed through a 9 m long, 15.2 cm i.d. Pyrex tube. The presence of sulfur dioxide produced no measu...

Environmental surfaces contaminated with pathogens can be sources of indirect transmission, and cleaning and disinfection are common interventions focused on reducing contamination levels. We determined the efficacy of cleaning and disinfection procedures for reducing contamination by noroviruses, rotavirus, poliovirus, parechovirus, adenovirus, influenza virus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmo...

The ethanol production in Brazil is carried out by fed-batch or continuous process with cell recycle, in such way that bacterial contaminants are also recycled and may be troublesome due to the substrate competition. Addition of sulphuric acid when inoculum cells are washed can control the bacterial growth or alternatively biocides are used. This work aimed to verify the effect of chlorine diox...

Bryozoans are common biofoulers of underdrain filter nozzles in rapid gravity filters in water treatment works. A potential method for controlling bryozoan biofouling is the use of chlorine in backwash water. Repeatedly exposing bryozoan colonies with chlorine for 20 min every 24 h in an experimental setting, to replicate what would occur if the backwash was chlorinated, caused significant redu...

A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of electrolyzed acidic water, 200-ppm chlorine water, and sterile distilled water in killing Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes on the surfaces of spot-inoculated tomatoes. Inoculated tomatoes were sprayed with electrolyzed acidic water, 200-ppm chlorine water, and sterile distilled water (control) and rubbed by hand f...

This study compared the efficacy of chlorine (20-200 ppm), acidic electrolyzed water (50 ppm chlorine, pH 2.6), acidified sodium chlorite (20-200 ppm chlorite ion concentration, Sanova), and aqueous chlorine dioxide (20-200 ppm chlorite ion concentration, TriNova) washes in reducing populations of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on artificially inoculated lettuce. Fresh-cut leaves of Romaine or Iceber...

Background: A 5 Ci 241Am-Be radio isotopic neutron source-based prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) setup was designed for estimation of minimum detectable concentration (MDC) of elements in aqueous solutions. Materials and Methods: Performance variables related to PGNAA setup (source to sample distance, sample to detector distance and volume of water) were optimized experimentally...

Chlorine gas is considered a chemical threat agent that can cause acute lung injury. Studies in the early 20th century on war gases led Haber to postulate that the dose of an inhaled chemical expressed as the product of gas concentration and exposure time leads to a constant toxicological effect (Haber's Law). In the present work, mice were exposed to a constant dose of chlorine (100 ppm-h) del...