Chlorine Poisoning

Chlorine (Cl2) is produced commercially by electrolysis of sodium chloride brine. Chlorine is used in industry and in household cleaning products. Chlorine was also the first poison gas to be used as a weapon during World War I.

Some of the chemical/physical properties of chlorine include:
•Chlorine is a yellow-green gas at room temperature.
•Chlorine has a pungent, irritating odor similar to bleach that is detectable at low concentrations.
•The density of chlorine gas is approximately 2.5 times greater than air, which will cause it to initially remain near the ground in areas with little air movement.
•Chlorine is not flammable, but may react explosively or form explosive compounds with many common substances (including acetylene, ether, turpentine, ammonia, natural gas, hydrogen, and finely divided metals).
•Chlorine is slightly water soluble, and reacts with moisture to form hypochlorous acid (HClO) and hydrochloric acid (HCl).
•Chlorine is commonly pressurized and cooled for storage and shipment as an amber-colored liquid.
•Chlorine is a chemical that prevents bacteria from growing. Chlorine poisoning occurs when someone swallows or breathes in (inhales) chlorine.
Chlorine, which reacts with water in and out of the body to form hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid. Both are extremely poisonous.

Chlorine is found in:

•Gas released when mixing bleach with some of the powdered cleansing products and ammonia (chloramine gas)
•Gas released when opening a partially filled industrial container of chlorine tablets that have been sitting for several months (for example, the first opening of a container after a pool has been closed all winter)
•Mild cleaners
•Some bleach products
•Swimming pool water (and tablets used in swimming pool water)

Symptoms of poisoning:
•Airways and lungs
o Breathing difficulty (from breathing in the chlorine)
o Throat swelling (may also cause breathing difficulty)
o Water filling the lungs (pulmonary edema)
•Blood
o Severe change in acid levels of the blood (pH balance) which leads to damage in all of the body organs
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
o Loss of vision
o Severe pain in the throat
o Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
•Gastrointestinal
o Blood in the stool
o Burns of the food pipe (esophagus)
o Severe abdominal pain
o Vomiting
o Vomiting blood
•Heart and blood vessels
o Collapse
o Low blood pressure that develops rapidly
•Skin
o Burns
o Holes (necrosis) in the skin or tissues underneath
o Irritation


Home Care
Seek immediate medical help. Do NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional.

If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. Do NOT give water or milk if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move him or her to fresh air.