Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is a strong oxidant that possesses an antimicrobial
activity. We demonstrated here that ClO2 gas is easily generated by mixing
3.35% sodium chlorite solution (Purogene) and 85% phosphoric acid at a 10:1 volume ratio
without using an expensive machine. In a test room (87 m3), experiments were
carried out using various amounts of sodium chlorite solution (0.25 ml/m3 to
20.0 ml/m3). The gas concentration increased in a sodium chlorite
volume-dependent manner and reached peak values of from 0.8 ppm to 40.8 ppm at 2 h–3 h,
and then gradually decreased. No differences in gas concentrations were observed between
0.1 and 2.5 m above the floor, indicating that the gas was evenly distributed. Under
high-humidity (approximately 80% relative humidity), colony formation of both
Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was
completely inhibited by ClO2 gas exposure at 1.0 ml/m3 sodium
chlorite solution (mean maximal concentration of 3.0 ppm). Exposure at 4.0
ml/m3 sodium chlorite solution (mean maximal concentration of 10.6 ppm)
achieved complete inactivation of Bacillus atrophaeus spores. In
contrast, without humidification, the efficacy of ClO2 gas was apparently
attenuated, suggesting that the atmospheric moisture is indispensable. Delicate electronic
devices (computer, camera, etc.) operated normally, even after being subjected to more
than 20 times of fumigation. Considering that our method for gas generation is simple,
reproducible, and highly effective at decontaminating microbes, our approach is expected
to serve as an inexpensive alternative method for cleaning and disinfecting animal
facilities.
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