Disadvantages of chlorine sanitation methods

The bactericidal effect of hypochlorite is due to the presence of available chlorine. This is hypochlorous acid (HOC1) and hypochlorite ions (OCl ), where HOC1 is the most effective disinfectant (Betts and Everis, 2005). The dissociation of HOC1 is dependent on pH and at 20 °C and between pH 6.0 and 8.0 the percentages of HOC1 is approximately 97% and 23%, respectively (Beuchat, 1998). This suggests that the pH should be as low as possible, but 

Another important factor to be considered is the effect of temperature in the washing process. Chlorine has its maximum solubility at 4 °C, but it has been shown that the chlorinated washing water should ideally have a temperature that is at least 10 °C higher than that of the product. Results from a study by Zhuang et al. (1995) showed that a significantly higher number of Salmonella cells was taken up by the core tissue when tomatoes at a temperature of 25 °C were dipped in a chlorine solution held at 10 °C. 

Potential hazards to humans may be connected with the use of chlorine-based washing systems. Apart from the direct occupational hazard, there are increasing concerns about the formation of potentially harmful by-products. Chlorine may react with organic compounds on the products and form hazardous organochlorines that are considered to be potential carcinogens (Beuchat, 1998 Betts and Everis, 2005). Betts and Everis (2005) suggest that a ban on the use of hypochlorite systems is likely in the future. 

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