Concentrations of about 400 ppm and beyond are generally fatal over 30 minutes, and at 1,000 ppm and above, fatality ensues within only a few minutes. A spectrum of clinical findings may be present in those exposed to high levels of chlorine.
Chlorine is used for:
- Making antiseptics.
- Cleaning drinking water.
- Treating swimming pools.
- Production of paper, paints, dyes, medicines and plastics.
Although the amount of chlorine in a swimming pool is usually minimal, swallowing too much pool water may lead to chlorine poisoning. The concentration of chlorine in public drinking water is extremely low and not harmful to human health.
Spraying a solution of baking soda in water into the air should take a fair amount of the chlorine out of the air and neutralize it. A solution of urea in water will work too: in WW 1, soldiers sometimes improvised gas masks from urine soaked towels.
Chlorine kills pathogens such as bacteria and viruses by breaking the chemical bonds in their molecules. Disinfectants that are used for this purpose consist of chlorine compounds which can exchange atoms with other compounds, such as enzymes in bacteria and other cells. The oxygen atom is a powerful disinfectant.
Chlorine is only slightly soluble in water, with its maximum solubility occurring at 49° F. After that, its solubility decreases until 212° F. At temperatures below that range, it forms crystalline hydrates (usually Cl2) and becomes insoluble. Between that range, it usually forms hypochlorous acid (HOCl).
Chlorine is a clear amber-colored liquid about 1.5 times heavier than water. Gaseous chlorine is greenish-yellow, about 2.5 times as heavier than air.
Long-term (chronic) effects:
Long-term exposure to low levels of chlorine gas is potentially linked to diseases of the lung (bronchitis, shortness of breath, possible permanent damage) and tooth corrosion. No cancer or reproductive effects have been reported from chronic exposure to chlorine.A person can usually spot a chlorine leak fairly easily as the element tends to have a strong, irritating odor that smells like a powerful cleaning agent, like bleach. Chlorine gas tends to have a yellow-green appearance and sticks close to the ground.
Chlorine poisoning can cause symptoms throughout your body. Respiratory symptoms include coughing, difficulty breathing, and fluid inside the lungs. Digestive system symptoms include: burning in the mouth.
Although bleach is a strong disinfectant, and vinegar dissolves mineral deposits and kills many types of mold, fungi and bacteria, combining the two can be dangerous. Mixing bleach with an acid such as vinegar creates chlorine gas, a toxic chemical that can be deadly at high levels.
Mustard gas or mustard agent is a poisonous gas that falls in the first group, along with even more lethal chemical agents such as chlorine gas and sarin. The same can't be said about mustard gas. Mustard gas, also called sulfur mustard, gets its name from its sometimes yellow appearance and mustardlike smell.
Bleach. Containing sodium and chlorine hydroxide, bleach is a toxic and dangerous chemical that can fill your home with harsh residues and fumes. The strong odor that accompanies bleach can last for days after you have used the chemical and can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue and burning of the eyes, nose and throat.
Acute exposure
Those who survive acute severe chlorine inhalation and pulmonary oedema usually recover fully, although residual obstructive-reactive symptoms are more likely.Nine people were killed and at least 1,400 people were exposed, resulting in more than 550 people treated at hospitals, including some with serious lung injuries. More than 5,000 people were evacuated from their homes. Chlorine gas is particularly insidious.
The severity of health effects depend upon the route of exposure, the dose and the duration of exposure to chlorine. Breathing high levels of chlorine causes fluid build-up in the lungs, a condition known as pulmonary edema. Contact with compressed liquid chlorine may cause frostbite of the skin and eyes.
The simplest test for chlorine is a litmus paper test, chlorine will turn a damp blue litmus paper red, and then it'll bleach it white, there are other tests you can perform. For example, chlorine will turn damp starch-iodide paper which is white to a blue- black color.
Symptoms of chlorine poisoning
- Sudden onset of nausea and vomiting.
- Burning sensation in throat.
- Itchy eyes.
- Difficulty or shallow breathing.
- Skin redness.
- Dull chest pain.
Etiology. Chlorine gas can be used as a disinfecting agent at swimming pools, or it could form by mixing household agents. The combination of bleach (sodium hypochlorite) with acid produces chlorine gas, a heavy green-yellow gas with a strong odor. Since chlorine is heavier than air, it accumulates in low-lying areas.
2 ppm of Chlorine will take up to 4 and a half days or around 110 hours to evaporate from 10 gallons of standing water. Ultraviolet light, circulation, and aeration will speed up the process dramatically.
