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Chlorine. orthorhombic ( oS8) Chlorine is a chemical element; it has symbol Cl and atomic number 17. The second-lightest of the halogens, it appears between fluorine and bromine in the periodic table and its properties are mostly intermediate between them. Chlorine is a yellow-green gas at room temperature. It is an extremely reactive element ...
- What Chlorine Is
- How People Can Be Exposed to Chlorine
- Food Contaminated with Chlorine
- Signs and Symptoms of Chlorine Exposure
- What to Do If Exposed to Chlorine
- Treatment for Chlorine Exposure
- Long-term Health Effects
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•Chlorine is a chemical element commonly used in industry and found in some household products.
•When chlorine gas comes into contact with moist tissues such as the eyes, throat, and lungs, an acid is produced that can damage these tissues.
•At room temperature, chlorine is a yellow-green gas under normal conditions and can be dissolved in water. Chlorine can also be pressurized and cooled to change into a liquid so it can be stored and transported.
•When liquid chlorine is released, it quickly turns into a gas that stays close to the ground and spreads rapidly.
•Chlorine gas can be recognized by its pungent, irritating odor, which is like the odor of bleach. However, repeated exposure to chlorine reduces the ability to detect the odor.
•Chlorine can react explosively or form explosive compounds with many common substances such as acetylene, ether, turpentine, ammonia, fuel gas, hydrogen, and finely divided metals.
•Household chlorine bleach can release chlorine gas if it is mixed with certain other cleaning agents. DO NOT MIX HOUSEHOULD CLEANERS.
•After a release of chlorine into the air, people can be exposed through skin or eye contact, or inhaling (breathing in) the chlorine gas.
•Following release of chlorine into water, people can be exposed by touching or drinking water that contains chlorine.
•While food or drink could become contaminated with chlorine, it is unlikely to be eaten or drunk because chlorine has a very bad odor and taste.
•Food not contained in glass or metal (such as plastic, paper, or cloth containers) that may have come into contact with liquid chlorine should be avoided.
•If the food is in an undamaged sealed glass or metal container, it should not be affected by a chlorine release. Wash the outside of the container before using.
•If the food smells, tastes, or looks unusual, avoid using the food.
•Follow any directions by local authorities.
Most people will smell a noxious odor or feel irritation that indicates exposure to chlorine, but low-level exposure for a long time may affect their ability to sense the chemical. When chlorine gas comes into contact with moist tissues such as the eyes, throat, and lungs, an acid is produced that can damage these tissues.
Signs and symptoms vary depending on how the person was exposed, the amount of chlorine (mass), and the length of time of the exposure. Some people with asthma or other chronic lung diseases may be more sensitive to breathing chlorine than others.
During or immediately after exposure to high concentrations of chlorine, the following signs and symptoms may develop:
•Blurred vision
•Burning sensation in the nose, throat, lungs, and eyes
•Coughing
1.Get away from the area where the chlorine gas was released and breathe fresh air. Make sure you understand your local emergency notification system if you have one. Refer to emergency broadcasts and local authorities for instructions.
•If the chlorine release was outdoors, go indoors and shelter in place. Make sure windows are closed and ventilation systems are turned off to make sure the contamination does not come inside. If you cannot go indoors, leave the area where the chlorine was released.
•If you cannot get away from the area where chlorine was released, go to the highest ground possible because chlorine is heavier than air and will sink to low-lying areas.
•If the chlorine release was indoors, get out of the building and seek higher ground.
•If the chlorine release was from household cleaners or chemicals, open windows and doors to the outside to let in fresh air. Leave the area until the gas has dispersed. Call the Poison Control Center for further assistance at 1-800-222-1222.
1.Get it off your body right away!
No known antidote exists for chlorine exposure. Treatment consists of removing the chlorine from the body as soon as possible and providing supportive medical care. Symptoms can be treated in a hospital setting or by trained emergency personnel.
If someone has ingested chlorine, do NOT induce vomiting.
After acute exposure, pulmonary function usually returns toward normal within 7 to 14 days. Although most people recover completely, symptoms and prolonged pulmonary impairment may persist for those more seriously exposed. Exposure to chlorine can lead to reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS), a chemical irritant–induced type of asthma.
Chronic exposure to chlorine, usually in the workplace, may cause corrosion of the teeth. Multiple exposures to chlorine may produce flu-like symptoms and a high risk of developing RADS.
Learn how to recognize, avoid, and respond to chlorine gas, a chemical element used in industry and household products. Find out the signs and symptoms of chlorine exposure, how to decontaminate yourself and others, and when to seek medical attention.
Chlorine gas poisoning is an illness resulting from the effects of exposure to chlorine beyond the threshold limit value. Signs and symptoms [ edit ] The signs of acute chlorine gas poisoning are primarily respiratory, and include difficulty breathing and cough; listening to the lungs will generally reveal crackles .
Jun 28, 2024 · Chlorine, chemical element of the halogen group that is a toxic, corrosive, greenish yellow gas, irritating to the eyes and respiratory system. Much chlorine is used to sterilize water and wastes, and the substance is employed either directly or indirectly as a bleaching agent for paper.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Jul 16, 2023 · Chlorine is a common element in household cleaning and pesticide products, but it can also be a dangerous gas. Learn how to recognize chlorine poisoning, what to do if you are exposed, and how to prevent it.
Nov 27, 2023 · Chlorine is a common and useful chemical, but also a toxic and dangerous one. Learn about its properties, applications, health effects and precautions from a pharmaceutical scientist who studies chlorine gas exposure.
Oct 14, 2022 · Chlorine chemistry helps keep drinking water and swimming pools safe. Before cities began routinely treating drinking water with chlorine-based disinfectants, thousands died every year from waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and hepatitis A. Chlorine-based pool and spa disinfectants such as dichlor 1 and trichlor 2 help keep recreational waters safe by destroying ...
