The Kinetics of Chlorite and Chlorate in the Rat

Chlorine dioxide (CIO2) is under consideration as an alternative to chlorination as a disinfectant for public water supplies. The primary products resulting from CIO2 disinfection of surface waters are chlorite (CIO- 2) and chlorates (CIO- 3). The kinetics of 36CIO- 2 and 36CIO- 3 was studied in rats. Radioactivity was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract following the administration of (0.17 μCi) 36CIO- 2 or (0.85 μCi) 36CIO- 3 orally, and 36CI in plasma reached a peak at 2 hours and 1 hour, respectively. After 72 hours, radioactivity was highest in whole blood, followed by packed cells, plasma, stomach, testes, skin, lung, kidney, duodenum, carcass, spleen, ileum, brain, bone marrow, and liver in 36CIO- 2 treatment. 36CI excretion was greatest at 24 hours after the administration of 36CIO- 3, but in the 36CIO- 2, the excretion most likely represented saturation of the biotransformation and excretion pathways. About 40% of the total initial dose was excreted at 72 hours in the urine and feces in both treatments. No 36CI was detected in expired air throughout the 72 hours studied.