Electrolyzed Water Safety in Lab Tests for Skin and Eye
In vitro biocompatibility study approaches to evaluate the safety profile of electrolyzed water for skin and eye
Research hubs: Skin & Dermatology System · Eyes & Vision System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- H Sipahi, R Reis, O Dinc, T Kavaz, A Dimoglo, A Aydın
- Journal
- Human & Experimental Toxicology
- Year
- 2019
- PMID
- 31303057
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 35 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Turkey
TL;DR
This study shows that electrolyzed water (EW), a type of disinfectant, can kill various microbes without being toxic to human cells or causing skin and eye irritation.
Key Finding
Electrolyzed water demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity against five common pathogens while showing no toxicity to skin cells, no skin irritation, and no eye irritation in laboratory biocompatibility tests.
Summary
Researchers created electrolyzed water (water treated with electricity to increase its disinfectant power) at different strengths and tested whether it was safe for skin and eyes. Lab tests showed that electrolyzed water killed common bacteria and fungi effectively, and when applied to human skin cells and tissue models, it did not damage cells or cause irritation. The study suggests electrolyzed water could be used safely as a disinfectant in medical and food settings.
Practical Takeaway
This laboratory study suggests electrolyzed water may be safe for skin and eye contact at the concentrations tested, but these are early-stage results using cell cultures and tissue models rather than human studies. More research in living organisms would be needed before drawing conclusions about safety for consumer use.
Abstract (excerpt)
Electrolyzed water (EW) is a widely used disinfectant agent with high oxidation–reduction potential (ORP). Although EW has been used in many areas, such as food hygiene, agriculture, and animal husbandry, the studies presented in the literature are not enough to clarify the toxic effects of EW…