Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) is the Superior, Safer Airborne Disinfectant Against Viruses, According to New Research

A recent study¹ published in Food and Environmental Virology confirms the superiority of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) over chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) and ozone (O₃) in killing airborne viruses at very low concentrations and without presenting a human health hazard.

According to researchers, HOCl mist effectively killed airborne coronavirus and influenza in less than 5 and 10 minutes, respectively, at a very low airborne concentration of 0.02 parts per million (ppm).

The effective concentration² of HOCl was 50 times lower than the 1.0 ppm of ClO₂ and O₃ needed to achieve similar results in a short period of time. Furthermore, the concentrations of ClO₂ and O₃, required to effectively kill coronavirus and influenza, were 10 times higher than the 0.1 ppm permissible limit for human exposure set by OSHA (2024), the US agency for worker safety.

The authors highlighted the possibility of using HOCl safely and effectively indoors while people are present. While there is, as of publication, no defined permissible limit on human exposure for HOCl, researchers compared its efficacious concentration to legal limits on chlorine gas:

“The permissible exposure limit for chlorine gas is defined as 1 ppm for 8 h/day… Consequently, the condition at 0.02 ppm, which showed a 2-log reduction in airborne SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus A within 10 min, is considered an adaptable concentration for real-world settings where humans are present.”

The findings of the study have provided crucial evidence for HOCl as an ideal airborne disinfectant that, in comparison to competing solutions, is highly effective at lower concentrations and the only one adaptable for use in occupied indoor spaces.

Read their study here: Inactivation Effects of Hypochlorous Acid, Chlorine Dioxide, and Ozone on Airborne SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A Virus