Uses and Health Risks Associated with Chlorine

Posted by sachlo on January 27th, 2020

Chlorine is the single material on which the production of other chemicals mostly depends. It is used in 60% of all Commercial Chemistry, 85% of all Pharmaceutical Chemistry and 95% of all yield-enhancing or agrochemical chemistry.

Chlorine is one of approximately 100 natural chemical elements, and natural chlorine compounds are found everywhere on earth. Because of its chemical reactivity, chlorine is rarely present by itself as natural chlorine, and it exists bonded to other elements in the form of chemical compounds like sodium chloride, etc.

Chlorine can be used as follows:

For bleaching wood pulp
For extracting gold from platinum
For sterilizing drinking water
For manufacturing dyes, drugs, and other organic compounds
For the production of insecticides

Major Health Hazards: 
harmful if inhaled, respiratory tract burns, skin burns, eye burns

Physical Hazards:
Containers may rupture or explode if exposed to heat. May ignite combustibles.

Potential Health Effects:

Inhalation:
Short Term Exposure: burns, chest pain, difficulty breathing, headache, dizziness, hyperactivity, emotional disturbances, bluish skin color, lung damage, death
Long Term Exposure: burns, skin disorders, lack of sense of smell, lung damage

Skin Contact:
Short Term Exposure: burns
Long Term Exposure: burns

Eye Contact:
Short Term Exposure: burns
Long Term Exposure: burns

Ingestion:
Short Term Exposure: ingestion of harmful amounts is unlikely
Long Term Exposure: ingestion of harmful amounts is unlikely

Handling And Storage

Store and handle under all current regulations and standards. Protect from physical damage. Keep separated from incompatible substances. Store outside or in a detached building.

Conditions To Avoid:

Avoid contact with combustible materials. Minimize contact with the material. Avoid inhalation of material or combustion by-products. Keep out of water supplies and sewers.

Chlorine is one of the major building blocks for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. It is also known as a disinfectant in swimming pools and drinking water,  chlorine contributes in areas as diverse as disinfecting, medicine, public safety and safety and enhancing our lifestyle.