Chlorine is a chemical element, with chemical symbol Cl.
Chlorine is very harmful to the human body, however, its effects depend on the amount of chlorine a person is exposed to, how the person was exposed, the length of time of the exposure, and initially on the health of the person or
condition of the environment when exposure occurs.
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.
It is a choking (pulmonary) agent. Breathing small amounts of chlorine for short periods of time affects the human respiratory system. Effects differ from coughing and chest pain, to water retention in the lungs (pulmonary edema).
These effects are not likely to occur at levels of chlorine that are normally found in the environment. Human health effects associated with breathing or otherwise consuming small amounts of chlorine over long periods of time are not known.
Since chlorine is used in cleaning agents, such as bleach, some studies show that workers in such industrial fields develop adverse effects from repeat inhalation exposure to chlorine, but others will not.
During World War I, chlorine gas was used as a chemical weapon, released in massive clouds by the German army to cause lung damage and terror downwind of its release.
Chlorine is also harmful to the environment, as it reacts with water to produce acids, that are corrosive and damage cells in the body on contact.
Chlorine dissolves when mixed with water. It can also escape from water and enter air under certain conditions.
Once in air or in water, chlorine reacts with other chemicals, organic or inorganic, to form chlorinated chemicals or salts.
Because of its reactivity chlorine is not likely to move through the ground and enter groundwater.
Plants and animals are not likely to store chlorine. However, laboratory studies show that repeat exposure to chlorine in air can affect the immune system, the blood, the heart, and the respiratory system of animals.
Chlorine causes environmental harm at low levels. Chlorine is especially harmful to organisms living in water and in soil.
No antidote exists for chlorine exposure. Treatment consists of removing the chlorine from the body as soon as possible and providing supportive medical care such as inhaled breathing treatments for wheezing in a hospital setting.
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.
It is a choking (pulmonary) agent. Breathing small amounts of chlorine for short periods of time affects the human respiratory system. Effects differ from coughing and chest pain, to water retention in the lungs (pulmonary edema).
These effects are not likely to occur at levels of chlorine that are normally found in the environment. Human health effects associated with breathing or otherwise consuming small amounts of chlorine over long periods of time are not known.
Since chlorine is used in cleaning agents, such as bleach, some studies show that workers in such industrial fields develop adverse effects from repeat inhalation exposure to chlorine, but others will not.
During World War I, chlorine gas was used as a chemical weapon, released in massive clouds by the German army to cause lung damage and terror downwind of its release.
Chlorine is also harmful to the environment, as it reacts with water to produce acids, that are corrosive and damage cells in the body on contact.
Chlorine dissolves when mixed with water. It can also escape from water and enter air under certain conditions.
Once in air or in water, chlorine reacts with other chemicals, organic or inorganic, to form chlorinated chemicals or salts.Because of its reactivity chlorine is not likely to move through the ground and enter groundwater.
Plants and animals are not likely to store chlorine. However, laboratory studies show that repeat exposure to chlorine in air can affect the immune system, the blood, the heart, and the respiratory system of animals.
Chlorine causes environmental harm at low levels. Chlorine is especially harmful to organisms living in water and in soil.
No antidote exists for chlorine exposure. Treatment consists of removing the chlorine from the body as soon as possible and providing supportive medical care such as inhaled breathing treatments for wheezing in a hospital setting.
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