Hello Kathryn, That is exactly why chlorine dioxide is so superior to chlorine. While they are in the same family, their mode of action is very different.
Chlorine acts by coming into contact with the mold. While in contact, it oxidizes it, and at the same time chlorinates it leaving a disinfection by product. It have very little penetration power, so you have to actively apply it to every piece of mold in order for it to have a chance at being effective. Also, you need a much stronger solution than what is currently recommended for use with mold. When you use that strong a concentration, you end up with bleach damage. Chlorine dioxide, on the other hand, remains as a gas, even when it is in solution. As a gas it penetrates structures and kills not only the surface mold, but also the "root structure" of the mold. It does not chlorinate the spores, it simply oxidizes them. I totally agree that you should first do your best to eliminate the moisture source, and then clean up any mold that is present. However, beyond that chlorine dioxide has the ability to penetrate dry wall, furniture, books, the wood work in closets, grout in the shower, and so on. This penetrating power kills the mold that is left after cleaning. Chlorine dioxide at high concentrations does have a strong odor, but I am surprised at how well people who are odor sensitive tolerate it use when the proper concentrations are used. There is a fine line between an effective concentration and one that is an irritant, however, if you follow the proper instructions the side effects are eliminated. Also, there are ways to incorporate chlorine dioxide without any odor at all. Tom ----- Original Message ----- From: Kathryn Clayton To: silver-list@eskimo.com Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 8:37 AM Subject: Re: CS>Solid sodium chlorite mold killer Of course if one is going to kill mold, the area needs to be aired out. The problem is that whatever is causing the mold smell is an active growth of mold, a colony somewhere. To understand that, one needs an awareness of how fungal colonies grow. To grow shitake mushrooms, for instance, one farm puts a plug of spores into an oak log, and leaves it for a couple of years. By the time it sprouts the fruiting body ( a mushroom), the entire large area inside the log is shot through with the mycelium- that needs a critical mass to be able to reproduce. So to kill the surface mold will not do any good in the long run, esp if a person has a toxin mediated illness. And I am not going to nit pick chlorine dioxide vs bleach, etc- they are all chlorine compounds and should work similarly. For a person who is brain fogged from toxins, I would not suggest using something like that since many also react to strong odors, even if they are usually benign, which any kind of chlorine compound is not. ymmv, Kathryn
