What is Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide is a solution that has both personal and industrial uses. It is a natural disinfectant and bleach. One of its industrial uses is to bleach paper; for personal use, hydrogen peroxide is well-known as a teeth whitener and cleaner. It also kills germs and bacteria and is useful for cleaning insect bites and small cuts and scrapes. Hydrogen peroxide costs less than $1 and is readily available in drug stores.
Types of Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide comes in various strengths. The product sold in drug stores is usually a mild 3-percent hydrogen peroxide (the remaining 97% is water). Other strengths range from 22 percent to 35 percent and are not considered safe for personal use. The higher strengths of hydrogen peroxide are sometimes sold in health food stores as a disinfectant. There is also a pure form of hydrogen peroxide than can be dangerous if used improperly.
How Hydrogen Peroxide Kills Bacteria
Hydrogen peroxide is always in a dark-brown bottle as light decreases its potency. Hydrogen peroxide is created from oxygen and hydrogen molecules. It is the oxygen responsible for the killing of germs. When hydrogen peroxide is applied to a surface, it reacts quickly and then breaks down into water hydrogen. At the same time, free oxygen radicals are released; these create oxidation, a chemical process in which oxygen combines with another substance to break down or change the function of the molecules. Through oxidation, the bacteria decomposes, rendering it harmless.
Research and Studies
In a 2003 issue of the "Journal of Food and Science," research indicated that hydrogen peroxide could decontaminate fruits and vegetables infected with E.coli. The Environmental Protection Agency has approved the use of hydrogen peroxide as a sanitizer. According to the EPA, "Hydrogen peroxide, well known as an ingredient in disinfectant products, is now also approved for controlling microbial pests on crops growing indoors and outdoors, and on certain crops after harvest. This active ingredient prevents and controls bacteria and fungi that cause serious plant diseases." Housing and Urban Development (HUD) states that hydrogen peroxide can be used to kill certain strains of mold, but that there is not enough research available to recommend it to eliminate mold in homes.
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