Using Chlorine Test Strips

Chlorine is a popular chemical that is often used to sanitize restaurants. It is inexpensive and an excellent way to kill a wide variety of bacteria. Steve Harrison, president of water filter maker Environmental Systems Distributing, stated “Chlorine has been hailed as the savior against cholera and various other water-borne diseases, and rightfully so”. While chlorine has many benefits from cleaning drinking water to restaurant sanitation it is vital that chlorine is regularly tested, especially in locations like restaurants and food service locations. In today’s blog Public Kitchen Supply will discuss the importance of testing chlorine and how to test it.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention considers chlorine at 0.2-2.0 parts per million (ppm) a safe zone for drinking water. When using chlorine as a chemical sanitizer it should have a 50 ppm but must be in water between 75 and 100°F. When chlorine fails to meet the proper ppm it endangers those who are exposed to it. If chlorine is not tested it is easy for people to become exposed to low levels of chlorine. Exposure to chlorine can result in short term and long term health problems.

A person is exposed to chlorine bleach at 3-6 ppm may begin to experience eye irritation. At 15 ppm people start to notice throat and nose irritation, symptoms may include coughing and nose bleeds. Consuming levels over 4 ppm can cause throat and stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are considered short-term harmful health effects. The long term health effects of chlorine exposure is much more damaging. After several years of chlorine exposure people may develop problems with their organ systems. One of the most common side effects is tooth corrosion and lung disease. This becomes especially prevalent in smokers, asthmatics, people with previous lung disease and those who have a history of breathing problems.

Due to the serious side effects linked to chlorine it is vital that businesses take the proper precautions when using this chemical. Luckily, chlorine test strips are a great way to provide a quick, inexpensive, and easy way to test chlorine's ppm. To perform a test, simply dip your test strip in chlorinated water, move it back and forth for five seconds and read the result. We recommend these Chlorine Test Strips, they include 100 strips. Included in the vial is a guide to walk you through the chlorine testing process, as well as a color coded chart that shows that your strip should look like at different levels. Be sure you compare the strip to the color chart immediately to get the most accurate comparison.

While high exposure to chlorine can result in negative health effects there are many benefits to this chemical. Chlorine is a great way to create safe drinking water and is excellent for kitchen sanitation. To reap the benefits of chlorine and avoid the negative side effects simply use chlorine test strips to test your chlorine on a regular basis. To buy test strips for your kitchen visit our website at www.PublicKitchenSupply.com

"Chlorine test strips Simple indicator test ensures accurate dosing and optimal taste." Driving Innovation to save Lives., 2014. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.
"Chlorine." Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Dec. 2010. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.
Food Safety Site. Clemson University, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.