Clorine drops?

“Do any of you use Clorine drops (i.e. clorox) for purifying your water? If so, when? where? how much? etc.?”

“This gets posted soo much.. hMMmm..”

“When? Where was this stuff posted?
You just don't know and won't admit it.”

“I don't use it.

Chlorine kills bugs and other nasty critters but does not get rid of minerals or other non-living nasties. Use a filter.”

“Same here. I use my filter if I have the time, and water tablets if I don't.

Do you want me to SEARCH for you, also?.. Geezz.. does your momma still dress you?


(I'm kidding, I'm kidding!)”

“Hay, I did a search and came up with the same infomation you have given me: nothing!

And, no my momma don't dress me, my wife does!”

“I know there are some others.. but there is a pretty good thread.”

“Towndawg,
Check your e-mail.”

“Hay, I did a search and came up with the same infomation you have given me: nothing!

And, no my momma don't dress me, my wife does!”

“Has anyone tried aquamira?

Here are the Faqs

What was it like?”

“click on the link I gave ya.. :)

One of the responses: I just take it from the streams or the springs. I like to use chlorox (2drops/liter wait 30 minutes) as my disinfectant or boiling for larger amounts. Filters are too heavy to carry and clog too often.”

“Not sure of the brand, but mine are some sort of iodine derivative.

Never tried the aquamira, bacpac.”

“from this other link: LOCATING SAFE DRINKING WATER

Chemical sterilization. In some situations, boiling may not be an option. The alternative is to treat the water chemically. Plain household chlorine bleach may be used. Be sure the label states that hypochlorite is the only active ingredient. Bleach containing soap or fragrances is not acceptable. With an eye dropper, add 8 drops of bleach per gallon of water (16 if the water is cloudy), stir and let stand. After 30 minutes the water should taste and smell of chlorine. At this time it can be used. If the taste and smell (and appearance in the case of cloudy water) has not changed, add another dose and let stand. If after one half hour the water does not have a chlorine smell, do not use it.”

“Thanks TownDawg. My connection is running a little slow today. I searched the TT threads only and found nothing. The link helped. Apparently 2 drops / liter is the going rate. I mostly wanted to know for backup to my filter. I usually carry Iodine tables for backup but they don't seem to be as "healthy" for you as just using chlorine.”

“Skully?.. Where are you?.. You are the microbiologist!

From what I remember, the danger is in viral contamination...”

“Also, if you fill your water bottles) the night before and clorinate them, and leave an airspace in the top of the bottle, will the clorine (taste,smell) evaporate from the water?”

“Again.. there are trade-offs.. I only use the tablets if I am too lazy to go get the fresh stuff.”

“I thought enough chlorine would kill everything including your gizzard.”

“"You just don't know and won't admit it."

BS
12:39:08 PM
01/16/02


And BS?.. don't ever imply such, my friend.. or I am coming to get ya. I do get even.

(again, I'm kidding.)

From: Back-country water treatment to prevent giardiasis

This study was conducted to provide current information on the effectiveness of water treatment chemicals and filters for control of Giardia cysts in areas where treated water is not available. Four filters and seven chemical treatments were evaluated for both clear and turbid water at 10C. Three contact disinfection devices were also tested for cyst inactivation. Filters were tested with 1-liter volumes of water seeded with 3x10^4 cysts of G. lamblia produced in gerbils inoculated with in vitro cultured trophozoites; the entire volume of filtrate was examined for cyst passage. Chemical treatments were evaluated at concentrations specified by the manufacturer and for contact times that might be expected of hikers (30 minutes) and campers (eight hours, i.e., overnight). Two of the four filter devices tested were 100 percent effective for Giardia cyst removal. Of the other two filters, one was 90 percent effective and the other considerably less effective. Among the seven disinfection treatments, the iodine-based chemicals were all significantly more effective than the chlorine-based chemicals. None of the chemical treatments achieved 99.9 percent cyst inactivation with only 30-minute contact. After an eight-hour contact each of the iodine but none of the chlorine preparations achieved at least 99.9 percent cyst inactivation. None of the contact disinfection devices provided appreciable cyst inactivation. Heating water to at least 70C for 10 minutes was an acceptable alternative treatment.”

“The current study showed that none of the chemical treatments could inactivate more than 90 percent of cysts with 30 minutes of contact time at 10C. At both 30 minutes and eight hours of contact time, the iodine-based disinfectants inactivated a higher fraction of cysts than did the chlorine-based products. All methods inactivated a lower percentage of cysts in cloudy or turbid water than in clear water. All disinfectants performed better with eight hours of contact time than with 30 minutes. Only the iodine-based compounds inactivated 99 to 99.9 percent of cysts, within eight hours of contact time for both turbid and clear water. As observed by Jarroll, et al (5), the 2 percent tincture of iodine was less effective than the other iodine preparations with 30 minutes of contact time, but it was as effective as the others at eight hours. Comparison of our results with those of Jarroll, et al (5), is complicated by differences between test conditions used. However, our results generally indicate more stringent requirements for effective inactivation of Giardia cysts. Differences between cyst populations used in the two studies could account for the observed differences, even though both were G. lamblia. Cysts produced in our trophozoite - gerbil system had consistently high intrinsic viability (>80 percent), excysted efficiently when fresh (80 to 90 percent), and have appeared more resistant to halogen disinfectants than reported previously (Ongerth J.E.: unpublished).”

“Characteristics of Disinfectant Preparations [Manufacturer column omitted. See text for this information.]

Name Active Chemical Recommended Application Total Halogen pH Concentration (b) (a), (mg/liter)

Polar Pure Crystalline iodine, 1-7 capfuls per quart 2.4 (1 6.1 99.5% depending on temperature cap/quart)

CEGDWT Tetraglycine hydro- 1 tablet per liter or 4.5 (1 5.6 periodate 16.7% (6.68% quart tab/quart) titrable iodine)

Potable Tetraglycine hydro- 1 tablet per liter or 5.3 (1 5.6 Aqua periodate 16.7% (6.68% quart tab/quart) titrable iodine) 2% Iodine Iodine 0.4 ml per liter 4.5 6.5

Sierra Calcium hypochlorite & 100 crystals (50 mg) 11.6 6.7 hydrogen peroxide Ca(OCl)2 + 6 drops H2O2 per gallon

Halazone p-dichloro-sulfamoyl 5 tablets per quart 7.5 6.7 benzoic acid, 2.87%

Chlorine sodium hypo-chlorite, 5 ml per gallon 3.9 7.1 bleach 5.25%

Notes:
(a) - As prepared according to package instructions.
(b) - In water treated according to package instructions.”

“Wanna harass me anymore there, BOY?

hehe.. by the way, that's Chlorine.”

“A Comparison of Chlorine and Iodine in the Disinfection of Water

by Brad Mierau, Ph.D.

Chlorine and iodine are both used as disinfectants in the treatment of drinking water of suspect microbial quality. Chlorine is preferred for this application because of the lower effectiveness of iodine, and concerns over the role of iodine in certain cancers and thyroid dysfunctions.

Chlorine and iodine separate in water into a variety of chemical species, depending on the pH of the water. The most powerful of the iodinated species are elemental iodine (I2) and hypoiodous acid (HIO). The most powerful of the chlorinated species is hypochlorous acid (HOCl), also known as 'freely available' or 'free' chlorine.

Compared with free chlorine residuals, iodine is clearly an inferior disinfectant. Free chlorine is five times more viricidal and four times more cysticidal than hypoiodous acid, and it is two hundred times more viricidal and two times more cysticidal than elemental iodine. Concerns over the increased oxidizing power of chlorine over iodine resulting in the loss of chlorine to reactions with organic debris in the water are unfounded. In the disinfection of wastewater, it has been demonstrated that 45 mg/L of iodine are required to achieve the same level of disinfection as 8 mg/L of chlorine (1).

Of a greater concern when comparing chlorine to iodine, are the risks to one's health that iodine poses. Iodine, when consumed in elevated concentrations over prolonged periods, causes abnormalities in thyroid structure and function. Thyroid abnormalities resulting from excess iodine in water purification filters, was reported to the US Centers for Disease Control by the Peace Corps in 1998(2). Excess iodine is implicated in the development of thyroid cancer(3,4,5), and has been hypothesized as having a role in certain gastric and mammary cancers (6,7). Iodine is commonly found in the food of developed countries, as well as in pharmaceutical and nutritional preparations. Goiter and thyroid dysfunction has been reported as resulting from excess iodine, regardless of the source of the iodine (8,9). Because of these concerns, the USEPA restricts the use of iodine water disinfectants to emergency situations. These products should not be used on a continuous basis.

Finally, water treated with iodine is practically unpalatable. Passing iodinated water through an activated carbon filter or adding a citric acid tablet, improves the water's taste by dividing the iodine molecules into iodide ions, but does not eliminate the health risks associated with iodine. The concentration of iodine exiting filter elements which employ it, can be quite high. We have experienced that after the filters have remained unused for a time, the iodine level in the filter product rises to a level where the water is tinted brown, and the iodine can be smelled from two feet away. Not only is chlorine safer and more effective than iodine, any residual not removed by a scavenging filter poses less of a taste and odor problem.”

“Great info TD. I'll never doubt you prowness on any backpacking fact from here on in. You D'man. Good links too.
Looks like I'm back to Iodine tablets as backup.”

“Did I read wrong, or is IODINE more effective than chlorine??

I take the little glass jar of iodine tablet (potacqua or something, sold at EMS) and use two. My friend carries a filter that we use . . .just not sure I trust it.”

“Great info TD. I'll never doubt you prowness on any backpacking fact from here on in. You D'man. Good links too.
Looks like I'm back to Iodine tablets as backup.”

“Geez TD, thanks. It's good to know there's someone around who can cover me when I have to be absent.”

“I'm gonna cut and paste all this stuff to a file so I won't have to ask again next week.

Thanks!”

“1. Among the seven disinfection treatments, the iodine-based chemicals were all significantly more effective than the chlorine-based chemicals.

2. The iodine-based disinfectants inactivated a higher fraction of cysts than did the chlorine-based products.

3. Chlorine is preferred for this application because of the lower effectiveness of iodine, and concerns over the role of iodine in certain cancers and thyroid dysfunctions.

4. Compared with free chlorine residuals, iodine is clearly an inferior disinfectant. Free chlorine is five times more viricidal and four times more cysticidal than hypoiodous acid, and it is two hundred times more viricidal and two times more cysticidal than elemental iodine.


Note the conflict in opinion?”

“Skully: You are the best my dear. You have taught me EVERYTHING I know in this regard.”

“dang, TD!

Pushy , yet informative! hehe”

“You iz a plethora of info. But in all that genius, you forgot the best part. BRAND NAMES! Out with the names PUNK!! I jes happen to be in the market for a good filter. For now on any short trips I'm able to steal away on, guess I'll stick to my 'dine tabs.”

“Well, welcome to the wide world of science guys! Enjoy your stay, and try not to get too confused while you're here ; )

BTW, if you think some of the debates on TT get heated, attend a science conference some time. You haven't seen anything yet!”

“And Skully doesn't like it when I speak geeklish!”

“Heeheehee, choose your brand of geeklish HPM!”

“naked ape: lol.. a consumer reports of brand names ehh?.. gEez.. I need to get back to work here.. I will save those posts for someone else.

prowler/bs/hpm: that was fun.. I like a good challenge!

skullcap: *roses for my best friend*”

“Our filter evaluation study showed that only the First Need and the Katadyn filters removed cysts with at least 99.9 percent effectiveness. Under the same test conditions, the H2OK filter was approximately 90 percent effective and the Pocket Purifier was less than 50 percent effective for cyst removal. The analysis of viability for the cysts collected in the effluent of the Water Purifier, H2OK, and Pocket Purifier indicates that passage through the device did not significantly reduce the percentage of viable cysts.”

“Even though some individual studies obtained varying results and came to widely disparate conclusions, the overwhelming body of evidence indicates that IODINE, is significantly superior to chlorine in the inactivation (killing) of both giardia cysts and cryptosporidium oocytes. However, both methods are inferior to physical removal (filtering) in that regard. All of the above mentioned methods are statistically equivilant in there effectiveness against bacterial contaminants.


We now return you to your regularly scheduled trash talk.”

“The scary part, skully? I UNDERSTAND what you just said!”

“Yeah, I have to admit my eyes sometimes glaze over in meetings with the java guys here at work.”

“you dawg - iffn you want to give a rose to someone - then give them a --,--`-->--@”

“nekkid, "clorox"

TD, I must say you have exceeded all expectations.

Next time I have a question, I'll direct it specifically to your atttention.

I'll study these links thoroughly. Right now it looks like, for a back up system, either will do. It just seemed like it would be easier to put some clorox in an eyedropper bottle and go because the iodine tabs will go bad after some time.”

“" ... it seems like your turning into a bunch of jerks ..."”

“TD, I don't understand that last statement. My comments are in earnest. Thank you for the effort!”