A highly selective attack is the key. Selective Micro products inactivate microorganisms by oxidating key components in membrane proteins that are vital to the protein's structure and function. Typically, cell death via chlorine dioxide oxidation is caused by a loss of permeability control and ultimately membrane potential. By oxidizing protein components, chlorine dioxide is reduced to benign byproducts. Also, since it goes through simple oxidation and does not proceed through electrophilic substitution, as do bleach and other halogenating compounds, no carcinogenic trihalomethanes (THMs) or haloacetic acids (HAA5) are formed. Here's a look at chlorine dioxide compared to other disinfection methods.