Hydrogen peroxide for water treatment

This article explains how to use hydrogen peroxide as a drinking water disinfectant. We discuss the limits of hydrogen peroxide for treating drinking water. The article includes research citations on the use of hydrogen peroxide for disinfection of drinking water as well as for treating wastewater and includes research on the combined effects of hydrogen peroxide with UV or ozone systems. Citations include research on the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide in the environment.

This article series outlines methods to purify or sanitize drinking water in an emergency following a disaster such as an earthquake, flood, or hurricane. Separately at WATER DISINFECTANT QUANTITY we review the amount of bleach or other disinfectants needed to effectively disinfect drinking water in daily use or in an emergency water supply situation.

Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide for Water Sterilization or Disinfection

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) sold as a topical disinfectant to reduce the chance of infection in minor scrapes, cuts, and burns, may also be used to purify water, and its odor will dissipate rapidly. Our page top photo shows typical drugstore hydrogen peroxide topical solution sold for home use as a disinfectant for cuts and abrasions. This hydrogen peroxide solution is found at 3% concentration.

How much hydrogen peroxide to add to drinking water? We have not yet found an authoritative source that provides guidance on the concentration needed to disinfect drinking water. One of our readers spoke to a company that sells food grade 32 percent hydrogen peroxide. They recommend 1/8 of a cup per gallon but we do not know how they have determined this advice.

More on uses of hydrogen peroxide and warnings about this substance are provided just below.

According to Dr. Omar Amin, of the Tempe AZ Parasitology Center, who corresponded with one of our readers who asked him about using hydrogen peroxide as a drinking water disinfectant: "You can use hydrogen peroxide if you want to but we do not have a track record of percentage dilution". Dr. Amin has done research for the US military and for the CDC.

H₂O₂ has been combined with UV light to sterilize water quickly, and this substance is used in medical sterilization equipment.

H₂O₂ breaks down into water vapor and oxygen; if your H₂O₂ supply is quite old, it may have deteriorated and be ineffective for any use as a disinfectant, including in its intended application as a topical or skin/cut/abrasion disinfectant. In that case don't use it - it's ineffective.

Warning about Drinking Hydrogen Peroxide

In July, 2006, the FDA issued a warning about the high strength hydrogen peroxides, saying they could lead to serious health risks and even death.

A warning from the BC Cancer Agency in Canada said that over a three year period 6 children were seriously poisoned and one died from drinking the high strength hydrogen peroxide. They report one near-fatal case of an adult ingesting high strength hydrogen peroxide. This article cites a 2003 entry in Journal of Food and Science on using Hydrogen peroxide to sterilize vegetables, referring to E.coli - NOT to Giardia.

Hydrogen peroxide vegetable soak

Some websites describe use of 35% food grade H₂0₂ but without citing authoritative sources. "Vegetable Soak: (CLOROX substitute): Add 1/4 cup of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide into a gallon of Cold Water. Soak light Vegetables (Lettuce, etc.) 20 minutes, thicker skinned Vegetables (like Cucumbers) for 30 minutes. Drain and dry, (they keep LONGER too).

If time is a Problem, you can spray the Vegetables with straight 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, let stand for a couple of minutes, rinse and dry." But is this treatment effective for just for Ecoli or also for Giardia?

Cryptosporidium cysts might survive a typical chlorine disinfection process (such as at a municipal water treatment plant).

[Click to enlarge any image]

For this reason some municipalities where Cryptosporidium cysts are a concern add a water treatment step using chlorine dioxide. Others may use a combination of UV light and chlorine in the water treatment procedure. This treatment is also available to hikers, travelers, and for emergency water supply use.

Aquamira™ and Katadyn™ (Micropur) provide portable or field-use water treatment kits using chlorine dioxide.

The best procedures for washing fruits and vegetables are found at VEGETABLE or PRODUCE DISINFECTION along with supporting research.

Use of Vinegar as a Water Sterilizer?

We moved this discussion. See VINEGAR for PRODUCE or WATER DISINFECTION - for a description of the effectiveness of vinegar as a disinfectant, a water disinfectant, a food wash, and warnings about the limitations of vinegar for water disinfection to make drinking water potable or safe.

Question: Use Hydrogen Peroxide for Disinfecting our Well Water?

I just read an excellent article [cited below] about water well treatment with peroxide; something I've been looking in to for some time. - James G. by private email 2016/09/16

• Westcott, Nancy & Randy Navratil, "Hydrogen Peroxide for Well Water" [Web article], J.C. Galloway & Son The Water Doctor, (website) (2004), retrieved 2016/09/16, original source: http://www.waterdoctorjcgalloway.com/hydrogen-peroxide-for-well-water.html
  This water treatment company provides water treatment equipment in Volusia County in Florida, including iron reduction and reverse osmosis water treatment systems.
  Abstract:
  Well owners are faced with a dilemma when it comes to chemically treating their source of water. Knowing this, hydrogen peroxide is one available treatment that provides many advantages. Some of them are outlined here.
  
  The authors discuss use of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) water treatment to address sulhur odors in water ("rotten egg odor" ascribed to sulfate-reducing anaerobic bacteria (SRB)).
  The residual hydrogen peroxide decomposes into dissolved oxygen, helping maintain an aerobic environment and preventing the formation of sulfides." By excerpt:
  
  In the presence of aerobic bacteria, hydrogen sulfide forms sulfuric acid, which corrodes metals and concrete. Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur or sulfate. It can also provide residual hydrogen peroxide to a system. The residual hydrogen peroxide decomposes into dissolved oxygen, helping maintain an aerobic environment and preventing the formation of sulfides. The dissolved oxygen is also beneficial to biological treatment processes. Hydrogen peroxide combines advantages not obtainable with any other single form of chemical control.
  
  The authors also discuss iron removal from drinking water using hydrogen peroxide treatment: Excerpt:
  
  The removal of iron from potable water source is aesthetically advantageous since iron can discolor the water, spot laundry and stain plumbing fixtures. In addition, the growth of ironoxidizing bacteria can result in abnormal taste and odor as well as contribute to bio-fouling in water distribution systems. Hydrogen peroxide is very effective in the oxidation and precipitation of iron. Peroxide rapidly oxidizes iron to form dense, easily settled solids, which are removed through conventional floculation / precipitation / filtration systems.
  
  Authors:
  Nancy Westcott is president of New Your City-based GoatThroat Pumps, a manufacturer of a unique hand pump, and works closely with hydrogen peroxide system installer. She can be reached at 212-255-6964, 212-243-6070, email: pr[at]goatthroat.com
  Randy Navratil is president of Essential Water Solutions, Inc. of Story City, Iowa, a distributor of hydrogen peroxide injection systems for residential and livestock use. He can be reached at 515-733-5053, cell# 515-290-9070, email: randy[at]essentialwater.net
  Author's Article Citations:
  • Hanson, David, ''Groundwater : Evaluating Your Well Problems & Maintenance Tips." WC&P, April 2001
  • Hydrogen Peroxide, Controlling Reduced Sulfur Compounds," Solvay Interox Inc.
  • Dechlorination," Solvay Interox Inc.
  • Price, Joseph M., "Coronaries/Cholesterol, Chlorine," Jove Books, Alta Enterprises, 1969.
  • Carlo, George L.. "Cancer Incidence And Trihalomethane Concentrations In A Public Drinking Water System," American Journal of Public Health, VOL.74, No. 5, pp. 479-484, 1984.
  • Drinking Water Mutagenicity and Gastrointestinal and Urinary Tract Cancers: An Ecological Study in Finland," American Journal of Public Health, August 1994.

Reply: research on the effectveness of & hazards of hydrogen peroxide for drinking water treatment

Thank you for the question, James.The authors of the article you like do cite research on the health effects of drinking chlorinated water - a topic we've addressed as well at CHLORINE HAZARDS in WATER.

Chlorine residuals in drinking water are not or at least need not be a hazard in a properly designed treatment system. Typically chlorine treatment systems include also charcoal filtration as post processing to remove excess chlorine; Residual chlorine is very volatile too (as is hydrogen peroxide) which means that in an open water container it dissipates rapidly.

I would never select any water treatment method, including disinfection, before knowing what water contaminants are present and need to be addressed. For example not chlorine nor peroxide will adequately handle some cyst like contaminants such as giardia, and no disinfectant addresses chemical contaminants, nor do they do much for turbidity nor do the handle more than low levels of sulphur odor problems.

For hydrogen peroxide disinfection, the effectiveness also is affected by water temperature: lower effectiveness at lower temperatures. In the research you'll see the use of ozonation to improve the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide treatments of drinking water: you probably wouldn't use H₂0₂ alone. Hydrogen peroxide has only a weak microbiocidal activity in water disinfection when it is used alone. (Sommer 2004).

You might also look at the limitations of ozone treatment of water supplies as the limitations of the two methods are similar. See OZONE for WATER DISINFECTION.

Research on hydrogen peroxide water treatment for drinking water, well water, groundwater, & wastewater

• Alasri, Anouar, Christine Roques, Georges Michel, Corinne Cabassud, and Philippe Aptel. "Bactericidal properties of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, alone and in combination, and chlorine and formaldehyde against bacterial water strains." Canadian Journal of Microbiology 38, no. 7 (1992): 635-642.
• Duguet, J. P., E. Brodard, B. Dussert, and J. Mallevialle. "Improvement in the effectiveness of ozonation of drinking water through the use of hydrogen peroxide." (1985): 241-258.
• Glaze, William H., Yiishyan Lay, and Joon-Wun Kang. "Advanced oxidation processes. A kinetic model for the oxidation of 1, 2-dibromo-3-chloropropane in water by the combination of hydrogen peroxide and UV radiation." Industrial & engineering chemistry Research 34, no. 7 (1995): 2314-2323.
  Abstract excerpts:
  A kinetic model for the oxidation of organics in water by the combination of hydrogen peroxide and UV radiation is described. ... The effect of the UV intensity, the initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide, and the various inorganic salts is investigated. Nitrage and bicarbonate/carbonate have a detrimentasl effect on the rate of oxidation of DBCP (1,2-dibromo-3chloropropane), the former due to UV shielding and the latter due to *OH scavenging. The rate of oxidation of DBCP is enhanced and the optimum peroxide level is lowered at low carbonate alkalinity, suggesting that presofening of groundwater prior to oxidation of halogenated alkanes should be cost-effective.
  The authors remark that experiments were made using groundwater delivered in polyethylene barrels and using a stock solution of 30% H₂0₂.
• Gaikowski, Mark P., Jeffery J. Rach, and Robert T. Ramsay. "Acute toxicity of hydrogen peroxide treatments to selected lifestages of cold-, cool-, and warmwater fish." Aquaculture 178, no. 3 (1999): 191-207.
  Abstract:
  
  Hatchery personnel depend on therapeutant treatments to control diseases. Currently, hatchery managers in the United States are limited to one approved therapeutant (formalin) and three compounds of Low Regulatory Priority (sodium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, and acetic acid) to control external diseases of cultured fish. Hydrogen peroxide has been used to effectively control external columnaris and bacterial gill disease in rainbow trout, however, definitive safe treatment concentrations for hydrogen peroxide are lacking for a variety of species.
  We report the acute toxicity of hydrogen peroxide treatments to 11 species of fry and 13 species of fingerling freshwater fish. Most mortality occurred within the first 30 h after the first exposure to hydrogen peroxide with little change in the overall shape of survival curves over time.
  
  Our data predict that in an actual therapeutic application of hydrogen peroxide, most treatment-related mortalities would be observed shortly after the initial exposure. Coolwater species were more sensitive than coldwater species but were generally similar to warmwater species tested. Based on our mortality data, coldwater species and largemouth bass may be treated for 60 min at concentrations of ≤ 150 (μl/1 without harmful effects; all muskellunge, walleye, bluegill, channel catfish, yellow perch, pallid sturgeon fingerlings, fathead minnow fingerlings, white sucker fingerlings, and northern pike fry may be treated for 60 min at ≤ 100 μl/l; and northern pike fingerlings and white sucker, yellow perch and fathead minnow fry may be treated for 60 min at ≤ 50μl/l.
• Glaze, William H., Joon-Wun Kang, and Douglas H. Chapin. "The chemistry of water treatment processes involving ozone, hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet radiation." (1987): 335-352.
  Abstract:
  Advanced oxidation processes are defined as those which involve the generation of hydroxyl radicals in sufficient quantity to affect water purification. The theoretical and (practical yield of OH from O3 at high pH, 03/H₂0₂, O3/UV and H₂0₂/UV systems is reviewed. New data is presented which illustrates the importance of direct photolysis in the O3/UV process, the effect of the H₂0₂:03 ratio in the O3/H₂0₂ process, and the impact of the low extinction coefficient of H₂0₂ in the H₂0₂/UV process.
• Huang, C. P., Chengdi Dong, and Zhonghung Tang. "Advanced chemical oxidation: its present role and potential future in hazardous waste treatment." Waste management 13, no. 5 (1993): 361-377.
  Abstract:
  
  Chemical oxidation reactions involving hydroxyl radicals have been extremely effective in the destruction of organic pollutants. These advanced chemical oxidation processes (AOP) generally use a combination of oxidation agents (such as H2O2 or O3), irradiation (such as uv or ultrasound), and catalysts (such as metal ions or photocatalysts) as a means to generate hydroxyl radical.
  
  The hydroxyl radical is one of the strongest inorganic oxidants next to elemental fluorine. The hydroxyl radical is stable over a wide pH range, up to pH 10.
  The hydroxyl radical reacts with organic by three major mechanisms: hydroxy addition, hydrogen abstraction, and electron transfer. Several AOP systems are reviewed first. The merits as well as limitations of these systems are discussed. The potential of AOP for future hazardous wastes treatment is then demonstrated by four AOP systems, H2O2/Fe2+, TiO2/uv/O2, H2O2, and TiO2/uv/H2O2, exemplifiedby chlorophenols.
  
  A reaction scheme can be generalized for the oxidation of halogenated phenols by advanced chemical oxidation, specifically, ones involving hydroxyl radicals. Upon the attack of a halogenated phenol, ArXnOH, by a hydroxyl radical, OH·, a free radical, Ar(OH)2Xn·, is formed. This free radical can undergo two reaction paths: (1)hydroxylation without dechlorination (Type A) and (2) hydroxylation with dechlorination (Type B). It has been observed that mono-halogenated phenols (n=1) only follow Type A path: dichlorophenols (n=2) and trichlorophenols (n=3) can have both Type A and Type B reaction pathways; tetrahalogenated (n=4) and pentahalogenated (n=5) phenols only follow Type B reaction pathway.
• Parsons, Simon, ed. Advanced oxidation processes for water and wastewater treatment. IWA publishing, 2004.
• Jeff, Martin, "Hydrogen Peroxide: A Potent Force To Destroy Organics in Wastewater." (1994), Plant, Lysette, Interox, Solvoy. Chemical Engineering, suppl. Environmental Engineering (Sep 1994): EE16.
  Excerpt:
  For years, engineers have relied on a number of processes to make industrial wastewater suitable for discharge. A variety of traditional water-treatment methods - including phase transfer, biological treatment, thermal and catalytic oxidation and chemical treatment using chlorine, potassium permanganate, ozone or oxygen - are discussed below. In recent years hydrogen peroxide has emerged as a viable alternative, overcoming many of the drawbacks that exist for the traditional water-treatmentmethods.
  ... In many cases this strong oxidant outperforms the competition.
  Note: the authors are addressing industrial wastewater treatment, not private septic system soakbed or drainfield rejuvenation treatments - Ed.
• Legrini, Oliveros, E. Oliveros, and A. M. Braun. "Photochemical processes for water treatment." Chemical reviews 93, no. 2 (1993): 671-698.
  Note:
  The authors discuss the effectiveness of processes for treatment of organic compound contaminants in the water supply. They describe the development of advanced oxidation processes (AOP) for the treatment of organic compounds dissolved in or dispersed in "aquatic media". The paper reviews AOPs such as hydrogen peroxide combined with UV processes, Ozone combined with UV processes, Titanium Dioxide TIO₂ combined with UV processes, and Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) processes, noting that "... as far as the photochemical technology is concerned and does not include applied work in the areas of disinfection, sewage treatment ..."
• Rach, J. J., T. M. Schreier, G. E. Howe, and S. D. Redman. "Effect of species, life stage, and water temperature on the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide to fish." The Progressive fish-culturist 59, no. 1 (1997): 41-46.
  Abstract:
  
  Hydrogen peroxide is a drug of low regulatory priority status that is effective in treating fish and fish eggs infected by fungi. However, only limited information is available to guide fish culturists in administering hydrogen peroxide to diseased fish. Laboratory tests were conducted to determine
  
  (1) the sensitivity of brown trout Salmo trutta, lake trout Salvelinus namaycush, fathead minnow Pimephales promelas, walleye Stizostedion vitreum, channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, and bluegill Lepomis machrochirus to hydrogen peroxide treatments;
  
  (2) the sensitivity of various life stages of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss to hydrogen peroxide treatments; and
  
  (3) the effect of water temperature on the acute toxicity of hydrogen peroxide to three fish species.
  Fish were exposed to hydrogen peroxide concentrations ranging from 100 to 5,000 μL/L (ppm) for 15-min or 45-min treatments every other day for four consecutive treatments to determine the sensitivity of various species and life stages of fish. Except for walleye, most species of fish tested (≤2 g) tolerated hydrogen peroxide of 1,000 μL/L or greater. Walleyes were sensitive to hydrogen peroxide concentrations as low as 100 μL/L. A correlation was found between the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide and the life stages of rainbow trout; larger fish were more sensitive.
  
  Generally, the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide increased for all species as water temperature increased. The results of these experiments demonstrate that it is important to consider the effects of species, life stage, and water temperature when conducting hydrogen peroxide treatments.
• Sommer, R., W. Pribil, S. Pfleger, T. Haider, M. Werderitsch, and P. Gehringer. "Microbicidal efficacy of an advanced oxidation process using ozone/hydrogen peroxide in water treatment." Water Science and Technology 50, no. 1 (2004): 159-164.
  Abstract:
  
  The combined application of ozone and hydrogen peroxide represents a kind of advanced oxidation for water treatment. The radicals that are generated during the process are used for the degradation of organic pollutants from groundwater and industrial effluents. The aim of our study was to evaluate the possible microbicidal, and particularly virucidal, efficacy of such a process, since no substantial data were available. The investigations were performed at a pilot plant installed for the elimination of perchloroethylene from polluted groundwater (reduction efficacy for perchloroethylene from 26 mg/L to 5 mg/L). To enable a reliable evaluation of the microbicidal effect, a set of alternate test organisms was used. As model viruses we chose bacteriophages MS2 (F+ specific, single-stranded RNA), ΦX174 (single-stranded DNA) and PRD-1 (coated, double-stranded DNA).
  
  Furthermore, spores of Bacillus subtilis were included as possible surrogates for protozoa and Escherichia coli as representative for traditional indicator bacteria used in water analysis. The microbicidal efficiency was compared to the inactivation by means of ozone under two standard conditions (20°C): (a) 0.4 mg/L residual after 4 min and (b) 0.1 mg/L residual after 10 min. Surprisingly, a good microbicidal effect of the ozone/hydrogen peroxide process was found. This was somewhat unexpected, because we had assumed that the disinfection potential of ozone would have been interfered with by the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Escherichia coli and the three test viruses revealed a reduction of about 6-log. In contrast, spores of Bacillus subtilis showed after the total process a reduction of 0.4-log.
  
  These results matched the effect of the ozone treatment (a) with a residual of 0.4 mg/L after 4 min contact time (20°C). The test condition (b) with a residual of 0.1 mg/L ozone after a contact time of 10 min at 20°C gave a higher reduction of the B. subtilis spores (1.5-log). The presented study revealed a satisfying microbicidal efficacy of the ozone/hydrogen peroxide process with respect to vegetative bacteria and viruses (bacteriophages). However, it has to be emphasised that intense mixing and sufficient contact time have to be optimised and tested for each individual installation.
• Staehelin, Johannes, and Juerg Hoigne. "Decomposition of ozone in water: rate of initiation by hydroxide ions and hydrogen peroxide." Environmental Science & Technology 16, no. 10 (1982): 676-681.
• Zepp, Richard G., Bruce C. Faust, and Juerg Hoigne. "Hydroxyl radical formation in aqueous reactions (pH 3-8) of iron (II) with hydrogen peroxide: the photo-Fenton reaction." Environmental Science & Technology 26, no. 2 (1992): 313-319.
  Abstract:
  
  Kinetics stucies of the indirect photooxidation of trace hydroxyl radical (*OH) probes in aqueous solutions were used to evaluate the nature and formation efficiency of the transient oxidants that are generated when hydrogen peroxide reacts with Fe(II) that is produced from photo reduction of Fe (III). Results of studies of these "photo-Fenton reactions" under various test conditions are in good agreement with the hypothesis that Fe2+ an dits oxalate, citrate, and phosphate comple (III).
  
  Results of studies of these "photo-Fenton reactions" under various test conditions are in good agreement with the hypothesis that Fe2+ and its oxalate, citrate, and phosphate complexes react with H₂0₂ efficiently to produce *OH in water at pH values ranging from 3 to 8. Such reactions involving Fe(II) and H₂0₂ provide a generally important pathway for oxidations in the environment and possibly for the treastment of contaminated waters.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2020-06-0 by (mod) - 3% hydrogen peroxide, diluted with an equal volume of fresh water, can also be used as a mouthwash

Thanks for the question about using hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant, Jerry.

According to the NIH, 3% hydrogen peroxide, diluted with an equal volume of fresh water, can also be used as a mouthwash (First aid antiseptic/Oral debriding agent), so it's reasonable to say it's safe to use to disinfect your toothbrush.

You can soak your toothbrush in drugstore 3% peroxide overnight, and that'll be fine, but you'll want to rinse it with fresh water before using the toothbrush again.

cf https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/

Watch out: drinking or consuming stronger concentrations or full-strength hydrogen peroxide can be fatal - as we cite from the U.S. NIH below on this page

On 2020-06-01 by Jerry - uses of 3% hydrogen peroxide

Oh for God sakes people. We go to the drug store and buy hydrogen peroxide. It comes in 3%. All I want to do is know how much to add to a gal of water to disinfect it. I don't want to drink it. Just soak my toothbrush in it. Get off all these 35% hydrogen peroxide answers. I don't even know where you can buy that. IT'S 3% THAT CAN BE PURCHASED BY US COMMONERS BY JUST GOING TO THE CORNER DRUG STORE, GROCERY STORE, AND ECT. So what is the answer for people like me? Not a chemist trying to disinfect a well or runoff water or fungus-infected water jugs. 3% is common over the counter strength and is what 99% of us can get or want to use.

On 2020-03-18 - by (mod) -

thank you for your comments, Joyce. I agree that "the dose makes the poison"

In the article above discussing use of hydrogen peroxide for water purification we cite authoritative sources - and excerpt from them.

Watch out: let's be sure to avoid confusion between using food grade hydrogen peroxide as a vegetable wash disinfectant and using much lower dilutions of hydrogen peroxide to disinfect drinking water.

Also from the article above

Watch out: "In July, 2006, the FDA issued a warning about the high strength hydrogen peroxides, saying they could lead to serious health risks and even death."

On 2020-03-18 by Joyce E Chapman - If people put 1/8 cup of 32% food grade hydrogen peroxide in a gallon of water they will get sick.

This is very wrong information. If people put 1/8 cup of 32% food grade hydrogen peroxide in a gallon of water they will get sick. This stuff is very very strong and that is way to much. I don't know who told you that, but, they were wrong. I have been using the food grade hydrogen peroxide for over forty years and if you do not use it and don't know what you are talking about you should never give advice on it. I pray no one has followed your directions on this because it is dangerous, especially with little kids. I would think that 35 DROPS would be a good number to purify a gallon of water.

I have personally never even seen 32% all I've ever seen or bought was 35%. I was reading that you use 1 cup for 300 GALLONS of water. I would still hold to using 35 drops or even less. This should leave the water bacteria free and have no added taste to the water and would be safe for all ages to consume.

On 2012-12-28 by Jonathan

Mike asked: what is high strength h2o2..what is the difference between 3%, 35% and food grade?
It is important to know that food grade H2O2 is the only one to be used internally. The non-food grade H2O2 has chemical stabilizers in it. These are not intended for human consumption. 35% food grade is the one to use for sterilising water, vegetables, and for internal use (if you choose to take small amounts of H2O2 in water for health purposes). When taken internally it 35% H2O2 MUST be significantly diluted in water.

Someone else asked about how long it keeps. 35% FG H2O2 is best stored in the freezer. It will NOT freeze in a home freezer, and will last a VERY long time. Food grade H2O2 is inherently unstable and will liberate gas as it breaks down. This process is greatly slowed when it is stored at sub-zero ( centigrade ) temperatures.

On 2012-08-28 by mike

what is high strength h2o2..what is the difference between 3%, 35% and food grade

On 2012-08-06 - by (mod) -

Anon:

Dr. Omar Amin, of the Tempe AZ Parasitology Center, corresponded with one of our readers asking about peroxide: "You can use hydrogen peroxide if you want to but we do not have a track record of percentage dilution". Dr. Amin has done research for the US military and for the CDC.

Also, don't confuse cause and effect. Lots of people who have never used a single drop of H2O2 also have not been sick for a long time.

Or to use a sillier example, I've been driving around with no seat belt fastened in my corvette for about three years now, sometimes really fast. And I've never had an accident. But my wife doesn't agree with my theory that leaving the seatbelt off is what has kept me healthy.

On 2012-08-05 by Anonymous

I have been using 12 drops of H2O2 in 6-8oz of distilled water everyday for over a year. I have not been sick,
had a cold or even a sniffle in all that time using this. My question is: the bottle I purchased (about a QT),
was over a year ago. How old is "quite old" as state above? The qt is almost empty now. How long is the shelf
life on H2O2. Also to purify drinking water I would use about 48 drops per gallon. I put one drop in a qt of
milk when I buy it and it last for a 3 weeks. This stuff is amazing.

On 2011-09-29 by Parveen Choudhary

Hello,
Sometimes I am having fever like feeling but not fever. I am using tap water for drinking without any sterlisation. Is it possible that water is the reason for this feeling ? I have noticed that after my lunch or breakfast i feel feverish otherwise not. Is this method effective in killing microbes and what concentration of hydrogen peroxide is required ?

On 2011-08-01 - by (mod) -

Lori boiling water will sterilize pots and pans, as will washing them in disinfectant such as a bleach solution of 1/4 cup of bleach per gallon of water. The pots and pans should be first washed clean in soapy water, then treated with the bleach solution - see details at BLEACH DISINFECTANT for Drinking Water - then rinsed in clean potable water before use in cooking again so as not to put bleach into food being prepared.

On 2011-08-01 by LORI

Looking for" how to sterlize pots and pans" from boiling water from e-coli tainted water w/ fecal mater also in the water. can you help me??

On 2011-07-12 - by (mod) -

At InspectAPedia we do our best to cite reliable research and authoritative sources, or we label comments as OPINION.

Watch out: Readers should NOT FOLLOW DJ's practice and should NOT drink Hydrogen Peroxide!

In July, 2006, the FDA issued a warning about the high strength hydrogen peroxides, saying they could lead to serious health risks
and even death. A warning from the BC Cancer Agency in Canada said that over a three year period 6 children were seriously poisoned
and one died from drinking the high strength hydrogen peroxide. They report one near-fatal case of an adult ingesting high strength
hydrogen peroxide.

InspectAPedia is an independent publisher of building, environmental, and forensic inspection, diagnosis, and repair information for
the public - we have no business nor financial connection with any manufacturer or service provider discussed at our website.

We are dedicated to making our information as accurate, complete, useful, and unbiased as possible: we very much welcome critique,
questions, or content suggestions for our web articles.

On 2011-07-12 by DJ - disagrees with health experts and drinks hydrogen peroxide! - UNSAFE READER OPINION

Your comments about Hydrogen Peroxide on your website is a Joke.....Especially dr. Amin's comments! I've been taking 35% hydrogen peroxide 'internally' (there is a certain protocol for doing this!) for over 15 years...And it's awesome! What do you expect the fda (or any government agency to say) to do....They can't make money off anything 'natural'! Did you know that your body makes hydrogen peroxide?....But as you grow older, it makes less...And with the chemicals in all of the foods you buy/eat (unless you grow your own and know that you didn't/don't use chemicals [chemical fertilizers. Etc] to grow them....Then...Well, the various government agencies don't want you yo know the truth....Because they can't make any money off of the truth.....Soooo, you believe what you want. The truth is out there, online (for free, thanks to the internet!!), if you're not tooo lazy to 'research' it! hydrogen peroxide has saved my 'life'....Litterly! I have emphysema (or copd...What-ever you want to call it)...And hydrogen peroxide therapy has put it in check....And I can do what I use to do...Which I couldn't before the hydrogen peroxide! I know my comments will not be posted here.....So be it....But, I know the truth (and many others are learning the 'real' truth every day)!

DJ (North Central Texas)

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