Sodium chlorite (NaClO2), a sodium salt of chlorite ion, is used as a disinfectant in water treatment and as a component in therapeutic rinses and gels. NaClO2 is an active ingredient of veterinary solution AZTEC GOLD, which is used to reduce the spread of organisms, which may cause mastitis in cows. NaClO2 can increase production of reactive oxygen species, which cause the oxidative stress in human erythrocytes, and as a result, the res cell senescence.