FAQ

Global Environmental Restoration, Inc. introduces SNiPER™ : the Ideal Biocide.

1. What is Chlorine Dioxide?
   Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) is a highly effective biocide. It is a selective oxidant that eliminates a wide variety of species such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, VOC’s, and has the ability to disinfect surfaces, and rapidly disrupt and destroy biofilms.

2. SNiPER™ uses Chlorine Dioxide, so what makes it different from products that use Chlorine?
   Although Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) has the word Chlorine in its name, the chemical structures are completely different. The additional oxygen atom radically changes the molecule and creates completely different chemical behaviors.  Their differences are as profound as those between hydrogen, the explosive gas, and hydrogen combined with oxygen, which creates di-hydrogen oxide – commonly called water. The Chlorine dioxide in SNiPER™ is a revolutionary formula that is extremely stable and generates NO harmful by-products.

3. What makes SNiPER™ different than Hypochlorite?
   Although Hypochlorite (chlorine) and Chlorine dioxide have similar names and elements they are VERY dissimilar. The commonality of the names arises from the fact that they all contain the element chlorine, but their properties are quite different.  Chlorine and Hypochlorite are very powerful oxidizing agents but more importantly their reaction with organic matter can lead to unacceptable concentrations of chlorinated organic compounds via substitution reactions.  Some of these compounds such as the by-products of the reactions with phenolic compounds are either odoriferous (such as 2,6-dichlorophenol) or extremely carcinogenic like dioxin.  Chlorine dioxide on the other hand is incapable of causing such chemical transformations.  Chlorine dioxide is non-mutagenic, non-carcinogenic and relatively non-irritating unlike chlorine (hypochlorite).

4. What is so great about the Chlorine Dioxide in SNiPER™?
   SNiPER™’s management of Chlorine dioxide changes all of the health & safety issues associated with traditional disinfectants and even other ClO2 products. SNiPER™ simplicity for usage and unique management of ClO2 provides unequalled and consistent reliability of operation and effectiveness.

5. How does Chlorine dioxide kill organisms?
   Chlorine dioxide is an oxidizing biocide. It deactivates microorganisms by attacking and penetrating their cell wall, disrupting the transport of nutrients across the cell wall and inhibiting protein synthesis.  Since this action occurs regardless of the metabolic state of the organism, oxidizing biocides are effective against dormant organisms and spores.

6. Can organisms build up a resistance to SNiPER™ ?
   Due to the salability and deployment technology of our Chlorine dioxide formula, it prevents any chance of organisms developing immunity, resilience, or evolved defense / protective mutation to protect the organism from SNiPER™ .

7. Is SNiPER™ Environmentally friendly?
   Chlorine dioxide is in fact used in many different industrial applications to improve and counteract environmental hazards.  SNiPER™‘s management and stability technology of ClO2 is environmentally friendly. By using SNiPER™, the introduction of trichloromethanes, chloroacetic acids, chlorinated dioxins, toxic VOC’s can be eliminated, all of which pose significant risk in the environment.  In its reaction ClO2 oxidizes (removes electrons) from other compounds and is itself reduced (gains electrons) to the chlorite anion (ClO2).  Toxicological studies have shown that Chlorine dioxide disinfection pose no significant risk to human or animals.  SNiPER™ has a Level IV toxicity rating with EPA on all routes of exposer: dermal, skin contact, eye contact, inhalation, and ingestion.

8. How versatile is SNiPER™?
   SNiPER™ is very versatile! SNiPER™ technology provides consistent high-level efficacy.   Its’ non-abrasive, environmentally friendly attributes makes SNiPER™ an extremely versatile product in many industries and applications.
   SNiPER™ is being used in providing a broader scope of applications in:

   1. Hospitals and healthcare facilities

   2. Education Facilities: Schools / Universities

   3. Public service industries (Law Enforcement, EMS, Fire)

   4. Environmental Service (Restoration services, Disinfection, Water/Sewer cleanup)

   5. Industrial VOC treatment (Oil & Gas, Wastewater)

   6. Water treatment

   7. Meat and vegetable treatment

   8. Poultry, Dairy, Pork farms

   9. Water tower microbial control

9. Is Chlorine Dioxide already being used in these areas?
   YES! Chlorine dioxide is being used worldwide as a disinfectant, for water and agriculture treatments, and odors.  Chlorine dioxide has been used in water treatment for over 70 years and is still the primary agent used in many European countries where chlorine has been banned.

1. Is Chlorine Dioxide used in the US?
   Chlorine dioxide has been an approved agent by the FDA and EPA in many different applications including water treatment and the treatment of food. Chlorine dioxide was used to treat the US Senate Building after the anthrax attack.  Chlorine dioxide as a disinfectant has not been common in years past but is a growing agent as technologies such as SNiPER™ can provide a safer, easy to use product that provides consistent results through stabilized chlorine dioxide.

2. Can other chemicals, such as bleach, affect SNiPER™?
   SNiPER™ can be affected by certain other chemicals such as bleach and ascetic based chemicals, nor should it be mixed with any other chemical products.

3. Is there any material SNiPER™ can harm? Metal, wood, plastic, rubber etc…?
   SNiPER™ will not harm materials such as metal, wood, plastic, rubber, etc.
   SNiPER™ is:

   1. Non-Corrosive

   2. Non-Flammable

   3. Very Mild for use around humans, animals and the environment

   4. Does SNiPER™ need any kind of special training to use and keep it effective?
      SNiPER™ is very user friendly and shelf stable.
      Anyone can be easily trained to use SNiPER™ and does not need “special training”. Always remember when using SNiPER™ to be through in treatment (touch in order to kill) and over application is not necessary.   Treating all contaminated surfaces thoroughly will provide great results.

   5.  If Chlorine Dioxide is only an Oxidizing agent, why not use Peroxide or Ozone?
      Ozone is a very powerful oxidizing agent. In acidic environments its oxidizing power is only exceeded by fluorine, which dissolves glass!  Ozone will react with most substances at 77°F (25° C), but accidental skin or eye contact could lead to immediate, irreparable tissue damage.  Ozone only has a half-life of 2 minutes, so it must be produced where you want to it and cannot be stored.  It is generally manufactured as a dilute water solution, on-site, but there is a high production cost. Hydrogen Peroxide on the other hand is very stable, if correctly handled. But with contact with even the trace amounts of metal ions (Mn+2, Fe+2) can cause rapid, explosive decomposition.  Dilution with anything other than distilled or de-ionized water will lead to unstable solutions.  Contact with any metal other than passive stainless 316L will also cause decomposition (corrosive attributes).  It is a powerful oxidizing agent and accidental could again result in immediate, irreparable tissue damage.  Chlorine dioxide is not this powerful as an oxidizer, but is more than sufficiently strong to act as a biocide.  It is safe for all uses and contact with skin will cause no damage.

   6. Why can Chlorine Dioxide be used at lower concentrations than Peroxide or hypochlorite, even though they are more powerful?
      Peroxide and Hypochlorite are more powerful and that is their problem. They are unselective and easily consumed by all manner of materials present in the environment.  As a result, large quantities must be used to ensure there is a sufficient residue to act as a biocide.  Because of Chlorine Dioxides selectivity in reaction, low levels can be used to eliminate microorganisms, as it is not consumed attacking non-target compounds.

   7. What is a Hospital Disinfectant?
      As part of the Environmental Protection Agency registration process, disinfectant products are put through significant testing to prove their efficacy and measure toxicity. The EPA registers three types of disinfectants: Limited Disinfectant, Broad Spectrum Disinfectant, and Hospital Disinfectant. All three disinfectants destroy or irreversibly inactivate certain microorganisms on hard surfaces and objects
      Limited – must be supported by efficacy testing against either Salmonella cholerasuis or Staphylococcus aureus Which are gram-negative OR gram-positive bacteria. Limited disinfectants are commonly found in household use.
      Broad Spectrum Disinfectants – must be supported by efficacy testing against both Salmonella cholerasuis and Staphylococcus aureus.  Effective against gram Negative AND Gram-Positive bacteria.  General disinfectants are more common in commercial areas.
      Hospital Disinfecatant – must provide efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella cholerasuis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa is more difficult to eliminate.  A “Hospital Disinfectant is a Broad Spectrum Disinfectant that is tested effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
      Also as part of the EPA registration process,  products are placed into toxicity categories:  The categories range from category 1 (highly toxic) to category 4 (no exposure warnings required on the label). SNiPER™ is registered with an EPA category 4 rating for all exposure routes (Inhalation, Ingestion, Skin Contact, & eye contact).

   8. What are the advantages of electric sprayers to spray SNiPER™?
      The quickest way to disinfect hospital rooms, gyms or locker rooms, or other larger rooms is by using a electric ULV or electrostatic sprayer that can create a fine mist to treat objects, walls, floors, and ceilings in a matter of just a few minutes. Electrostatic sprayers and ULV Sprayers can dramatically cut the time to disinfect large areas.  SNiPER™ is one of the few disinfectants that can be dispersed in this manner because it is non-corrosive to treated surfaces and objects.