Characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects (AHE) info. for chlorine dioxide (CD), a hazardous gas that is used as a bleach at paper pulp mills, and in public water-treatment facilities. This profile includes: (A) exam¿n. and interpretation of available toxicologic info. and epidemiologic evaluations on CD to ascertain the levels of significant human exposure and the assoc. chronic health effects; (B) A determination of whether adequate info. on the health effects of CD is avail. to determine levels of exposure that present a significant risk to human health of acute, subacute, and chronic health effects; and (C) Identification of toxicologic testing needed to identify the types or levels of exposure that may present significant risk of AHE in humans. Charts and tables.

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) exists as a greenish yellow to orange gas at room temperature. It is used in the paper and pulp bleaching industries as a sterilizing agent, in hospitals as a biocide in water treatment, and as an improving agent in flour. This document focuses on exposures via routes relevant to occupational settings principally related to the production of chlorine dioxide, but also contains environmental information. The health effects and environmental fate and effects of chlorine dioxide used in the treatment of drinking-water, together with those of halogenated organics produced by the interaction between the disinfectant and other materials present in the water are covered in a recent Environmental Health Criteria publication (EHC No. 216 2000) and are not dealt with in detail here. Chlorine dioxide is an irritant and it seems likely that health effects would be restricted to local responses. The few ecotoxicity data available show that chlorine dioxide can be highly toxic to aquatic organisms.