The Kinetics of Chlorite and Chlorate in the Rat

Abstract

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.