Distribution and Chemical Fate of [36Cl]Chlorine Dioxide Gas on Avocados, Eggs, Onions, and Sweet Potatoes.

Fate and distribution studies were conducted with [³⁶Cl]-chlorine dioxide in avocados, eggs, onions, and sweet potatoes. Experiments utilized sealed, darkened chambers, 5 mg of ³⁶ClO₂ (g), and two-hour exposure periods. Total radioactive residues were quantitated in gas purges, tank rinses, reaction chambers, and on fractions specific to each food. Deposition of the radioactive residue was mostly a surface phenomenon; transfer of radioactivity into albumen occurred in egg, but radioactivity did not penetrate the onion tunic and only small amounts of activity were present in avocado flesh. Potato skin contained essentially all the potato radiochlorine. Regardless of the food product, nearly all radioactive residue was present in edible tissues as chloride ions; the chlorite ion was present only in egg-rinse water. Small amounts (10% or less) of radioactivity were present as chlorate ions, which would be a useful marker compound for chlorine dioxide sanitation.