How chlorine kills virus?

Author: Aravindan

Chlorine does not change a virus into a human cell. Instead, chlorine is a powerful disinfectant that destroys or inactivates viruses, rendering them unable to attach to, enter, or infect human cells. 

Here is how chlorine acts on viruses:

Destroys Structure: Chlorine, specifically through the formation of hypochlorous acid (HClO) in water, breaks down the viral envelope (outer shell) and damages the protein capsid. 

Damages Genetic Material: Chlorine reacts with the virus’s internal components, such as ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which stops them from replicating. 

Prevents Infection: By destroying the surface proteins, chlorine prevents the virus from finding and binding to receptors on host cells, stopping the infection process. 

Studies have shown that chlorinated swimming pool water can significantly reduce the infectivity of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in as little as 30 seconds. While highly effective against many viruses and bacteria, some organisms, such as Cryptosporidium, are resistant to chlorine.

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