In the area of daily life and public health, disinfectant water is a common tool for preventing disease transmission. There is, however, a misconception that the higher the concentration of disinfectant water, the better it is and the less harmful it is. It’s actually wrong, and today we’re going to go over this area in detail.
First, all types of disinfectant water have a specific range of effective concentrations, which are not as high as possible. For example, the main active ingredient is sodium hypochlorate, which is the common 84 disinfectant. The appropriate concentration of 84 disinfectant liquids can effectively kill many pathogenic microorganisms. In general, a valid chlorine content of about 500 mg/L is sufficient for routine domestic disinfection. When concentrations are too high, on the one hand, the disinfection does not significantly increase. Since, at a certain concentration, the disinfection capacity of the disinfectant water becomes saturated, the excess disinfectant composition does not further increase the sterilisation effectiveness. On the other hand, high concentrations of 84 disinfectant liquids release large amounts of irritant chlorine gas. Chlorine gas is a toxic gas that, when inhaled in humans, causes strong irritation to the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, causes symptoms such as cough, difficulty in breathing, and even life-threatening conditions such as pulmonary oedema and respiratory failure when severe. Chronic damage to the nervous system, cardiovascular system, etc. may also occur in a chronic environment of high chlorine concentrations.
The same applies to alcohol disinfection. A 75 per cent concentration of alcohol sterilisation is the most effective, and this concentration can quickly infiltrate bacteria and viruses, degenerating proteins and thus killing them. If alcohol levels are too high, such as the use of waterless alcohol, they lead to the rapid condensation of proteins on the surface of bacteria and to the formation of a diaphragm, which in turn prevents further internal penetration of alcohol, leading to a significant reduction in disinfection. Moreover, high-concentration alcohols are extremely volatile, and during their use, their volatile alcohol vapours tend to accumulate within closed spaces, and exposure to open fires or high-temperature sources is highly likely to cause combustion or even explosion, posing serious risks to family and public safety.
The two-oxygen water for medical treatment is generally used at a level of around 3 per cent to disinfect the wound. This concentration is effective in neutralizing bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms in the wound, and does not cause overexploitation damage to normal tissue. If the double oxygen water concentration is too high, there will be a strong oxidation of the health tissue around the wound, resulting in tissue burns, increased pain, delayed healing of the wound, and possibly even adverse consequences such as a marked increase in the scar after healing.
In practice, this misconception of “higher and better” may lead to overuse of high concentrations of disinfectant water, thereby causing harm to the environment. The use of large amounts of high concentrations of disinfectant water can leave the disinfected water in the environment, which may be toxic to aquatic organisms and disrupt ecological balance when it flows into water systems such as sewers and rivers. For example, high concentrations of chlorine-containing disinfectant water can affect the microbial community structure in water, leading to inhibition of aquatic plant growth, such as algae, which in turn affects the food chain and material circulation of the whole aquatic ecosystem.
So, how do we use disinfectant properly? In the household environment, the dilution ratio is strictly based on the product instructions when 84 disinfectants are used. For example, if floors are to be sterilized, the appropriate amount of 84 sterilizers can be diluted in the water, then towed with a mop to extract the diluted solution, so that the residual chlorine gas can be removed as soon as possible. When using alcohol disinfection, choose 75% concentration of medical alcohol, wipe the surface of the object with cotton balls or clean towels, such as mobile phones, door handles, remote controls and so on, and use it away from the open fire and high temperature. For medical double-oxygen water, a suitable 3 per cent concentration of 3 per cent of the double-oxygen water is applied in the treatment of the wound, which is then rinsed with physiosal water.
In short, the higher the concentration of disinfectant water, the better it is, we should properly understand the characteristics and methods of its use, avoid falling into the wrong zone and ensure our own safety and environmental health while safeguarding its effects.
