Summary
A mid-20th-century study found HOCl gas killed airborne influenza virus at very low concentrations. Mice and cats breathing it showed no serious toxic effects, though the gas irritated their mucous membranes.
Key points
- HOCl gas at about 1 part in 2 million of air destroyed 99% of airborne influenza A virus.
- Mice and cats showed no serious toxic effects, but the gas acutely irritated mucous membranes.
- Exposure did not make the animals more prone to influenza.
- Short exposures in animals only; no modern safety measures and no human data.
Journal of Hygiene (opens in a new tab)
Extract
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Experiments are described for determining the effect of hypochlorite mists and hypochlorous acid gas on aerosols of influenza A virus.
The virus aerosol is shown to be at least as easily killed by hypochlorite mists as Streptococcus salivarius. It is also killed by liberating hypochlorous acid gas itself into the atmosphere. A concentration of 1 vol. of gas in 2 million vol. of air is probably effective in destroying 99% or more of virus particles when the proportion of these in the air is small.
Preliminary experiments on mice and cats are recorded which failed to reveal any toxic effects produced by inhaling the gas in relatively high concentrations or for prolonged periods. Acute irritation of mucous membranes only was found. This did not appear to lead to any increased susceptibility of mice to subsequent infection with influenza.
We wish to acknowledge our indebtedness to the late Sir Patrick Laidlaw and to Dr R. J. V. Pulvertaft in co-operation with whom the earlier experiments were made. We also wish to thank Dr W. J. Elford, Dr F. C. MacIntosh, Dr R. K. Callow and Dr T. S. Work for their assistance and advice in parts of the investigation.