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JUNE-JULY , 2021 | THE HEALTH
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potential ) and carcinogenicity ( cancercausing potential ) in its results .
Research by Abdel-Rahman and colleagues in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives showed that CL02 concentration of 10 mg / l resulted in increased chloroform ( a potentially hazardous metabolite ) levels in rat testes , but remained unchanged in the blood , liver , kidney , spleen and brain . The study showed that chronic exposure to a low or high dose can have very different outcomes .
The outcome from this daily oral intake study in rats for over a year is a good indicator that smaller doses for shorter durations could potentially be safe for possible human studies . Claims made by proponents of CL02 suggest a mere few days of treatment . The said quasiexperiment claimed to have used a 30 mg dose per day for a maximum of 21 days .
Research by Abdel-Rahman and colleagues also points to quick absorption and elimination of CL02 and its metabolites , although CL02 may last longer in the body compared to other metabolites . This could be favourable given that CL02 is the chemical form of interest with known antimicrobial and antiviral properties . The kinetics profile in rats may call for a similar study to be conducted in humans .
Unlike mammalian cells , viral cells may have different cell membrane biochemistry and may not have the complex antioxidative protection mechanisms that protects it from the oxidative nature of CL02 . It is important to investigate if these factors provide some level of selectiveness when CL02 is exposed to an environment with a mixture of microbes or viruses , and human cells .
Additional selectivity factor ?
Additionally , Hungarian researchers published an article titled “ Chlorine Dioxide Is a Size-Selective Antimicrobial Agent ” which elucidated size of the cells as another form of selectivity . In short , the study showed selectivity of CL02 on bacterial cells due to its smaller size difference with human cells .
For comparison , according to sources the rhinovirus and poliovirus are 0.03 micrometers ( μm ) wide , influenza viruses are roughly 0.1 μm in diameter ( similar to Covid-19 virus ), lactobacillus ( gut bacteria ) is about 2 μm , red blood cell is 8 μm , a skin cell is 30 μm , sperm 60 μm , a neuron 100 μm , and human egg is 130 μm .
Human lung cells ( ranging from below 1 μm to 2 μm ) have been shown in reports to be more sensitive to CL02 via inhalation , even with extensive blood flow , which could indicate this to be the size limit for toxicity subject to concentrations and exposure time . Size-selectivity could be why studies relating to CL02 as a wound antiseptic or a mouth rinse observed significantly improved clinical appearance and reduced microbial count without significant side effects . Could this be an additional selectivity factor to protect human cells from CL02 in vivo ?
Of course , this depends on the kind of CL02 metabolites upon absorption in the blood and the chemical species at target organs . The US Department of Health and Human Services mentioned that “ Being both a strong oxidiser and water-soluble , chlorine dioxide is not likely absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract to any great extent ”.
This contradicts research by Abdel- Rahman and colleagues , as well as a paper by V . M . Gómez-López , in Encyclopedia of Toxicology ( Third Edition ) as the latter stated that “ Chlorine dioxide can be rapidly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract . Peak blood concentration levels can be reached within one hour after a single dose administered orally .” Again , this has to be reinvestigated .
The paper by Abdel-Rahman and colleagues also showed that the distribution of CL02 was highest in the kidney , followed by lung , plasma , stomach , ileum , liver , duodenum , spleen and bone marrow .
Recall that cells in these areas or organs may be much larger than the target pathogen i . e ., viruses . It presents an interesting proposition where CL02 distribution could be highest in places of interest ( in relation to Covid-19 infection ) such as the lungs and blood plasma , where CL02 may react selectively with viruses and pathogens due to size differences with human cells , differences in cell membrane chemistry as well as higher oxidative protection in larger mammalian cells such as human cells . It would be of great interest to test such hypotheses .
In the end , the claimed quasiexperiment may end up being fake , and the hypotheses herein can be proven wrong . The objective is not to be proven right , but to ensure all potential solutions have been taken into consideration , and to disprove or consider solutions via a thorough , independent , and transparent scientific method . — The Health
Ameen Kamal is the Head of Science & Technology at EMIR Research , an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research .
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