Chlorine - Cl

Chemical properties of chlorine - Health effects of chlorine - Environmental effects of chlorine

Atomic number Atomic mass Electronegativity according to Pauling Density Melting point Boiling point Vanderwaals radius Ionic radius Isotopes Electronic shell Energy of first ionisation Energy of second ionisation Energy of third ionisation Standard potential Discovered by 17 35.453 g.mol -1 3.0 3.21*10 -3 g.cm -3 at 20 C -101 C -34.6 C 0.127 nm 0.184 (-2) nm ; 0.029 nm (+6) 4 [Ne] 3s23p5 1255.7 kJ.mol -1 2298 kJ.mol -1 3822 kJ.mol -1 - 1.36 V Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1774

Chlorine
Discovered in 1774 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele, who mistakenly thought it contained oxygen. Chlorine was given its name in 1810 by Humphry Davy, who insisted that it was in fact an element. The pure chemical element has the physical form of a diatomic green gas. The name chlorine is derived from chloros, meaning green, referring to the color of the gas. Chlorine gas is two and one half times as heavy as air, has an intensely disagreeable suffocating odor, and is exceedingly poisonous. In its liquid and solid form it is a powerful oxidizing, bleaching, and disinfecting agent. This element is a part of the halogen series forming salts. It is extracted from chlorides through oxidation and electrolysis. Chlorine gas is greenish-yellow and combines readily with nearly all other elements. Applications Chlorine is an important chemical in water purification, in disinfectants, in bleach and in mustard gas. Chlorine is also used widely in the manufacture of many products and items directly or indirectly, i.e. in paper product production, antiseptic, dyestuffs, food, insecticides, paints, petroleum products, plastics, medicines, textiles, solvents, and many other consumer products. It is used to kill bacteria and other microbes from drinking water supplies. Chlorine is involved in beaching wood pulp for paper making, bleach is also used industrially to remove ink from recycle paper. Chlorine often imparts many desired properties in an organic compound when it is substituted for hydrogen(synthetic rubber), so it is widely use in organic chemistry, in the production of chlorates, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and in the bromine extraction.

Chlorine in the environment In nature it is only found combined with other elements chiefly sodium in the form of common salt (NaCl), but also in carnallite, and sylvite. Chlorides make up much of the salt dissolved in the earth's oceans: about 1.9 % of the mass of seawater is chloride ions. The amount of chloride in soils varies according to the distance from the sea. The average in top soils is about 10 ppm. Plants contain various amount of chlorine; it is an essential microutrient for higher plants where is concentrates in the chloroplasts. Growth suffers if the amount of chloride in the soil fall below 2 ppm, but it rarely happens. The upper limit of tolerance varies according to the crop.

Health effects of chlorine

Chlorine is a highly reactive gas. It is a naturally occurring element. The largest users of chlorine are companies that make ethylene dichloride and other chlorinated solvents, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins, chlorofluorocarbons, and propylene oxide. Paper companies use chlorine to bleach paper. Water and wastewater treatment plants use chlorine to reduce water levels of microrganisms that can spread disease to humans (disinfection). Exposure to chlorine can occur in the workplace or in the environment following releases to air, water, or land. People who use laundry bleach and swimming pool chemicals containing chlorine products are usually not exposed to chlorine itself. Chlorine is generally found only in industrial settings. Chlorine enters the body breathed in with contaminated air or when consumed with contaminated food or water. It does not remain in the body, due to its reactivity. Effects of chlorine on human health depend on how the amount of chlorine that is present, and the length and frequency of exposure. Effects also depend on the health of a person or condition of the environment when exposure occurs. Breathing small amounts of chlorine for short periods of time adversely affects the human respiratory system. Effects differ from coughing and chest pain, to water retention in the lungs. Chlorine irritates the skin, the eyes, and the respiratory system. 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. Some studies show that workers develop adverse effects from repeat inhalation exposure to chlorine, but others will not.

Environmental effects of chlorine

Chlorine dissolves when mixed with water. It can also escape from water and enter air under certain conditions. Most direct releases of chlorine to the environment are to air and to surface water. Once in air or in water, chlorine reacts with other chemicals. It combines with inorganic material in water to form chloride salts, and with organic material in water to form chlorinated organic chemicals. 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. More info about the effects of gases such as chlorine in freshwater ecosystems

Back to periodic chart. Recommended daily intake of chlorine

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The Facts About Chlorine

General Information
A copy of the The Facts About Chlorine (General Information) is available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF, 63 KB, 3pg.) Note to reader: This fact sheet is intended to provide general awareness and education on a specific chemical agent. For information on preparedness and response (e.g., for first responders and emergency medical personnel), please refer to the following Department resources:

Chemical Terrorism Preparedness and Response Card (PDF, 45KB, 7pg.) Chemical Terrorism Wall Chart (PDF, 97KB, 1pg.)

What is chlorine?
Chlorine is a chemical used in industry and in household cleaning products. Chlorine is among the ten highest volume chemicals made in the United States. At room temperature, chlorine is a gas. It has a yellow-green color, and a pungent, irritating odor similar to bleach. Usually, it is pressurized and cooled for storage and shipment as an amber-colored liquid. Chlorine does not catch fire easily, but may combine with other common substances to form explosive compounds.

How is chlorine used?

Chlorine has a variety of uses. It is used to disinfect water and is part of the sanitation process for sewage and industrial waste. During the production of paper and cloth, chlorine is used as a bleaching agent. It is also used in cleaning products, including household bleach which is chlorine dissolved in water. Chlorine is used in the preparation of chlorides, chlorinated solvents, pesticides, polymers, synthetic rubbers, and refrigerants.

How can people be exposed to chlorine?

Because of its widespread use in industrial and commercial locations, exposure to chlorine could occur from an accidental spill or release, or from a deliberate terrorist attack. The most harmful route of exposure is from breathing chlorine gas. Exposure may also result from skin contact or eye contact with chlorine gas or by swallowing chlorine-contaminated food or water. Chlorine gas is heavier than air and will initially remain in low-lying areas unless wind or other conditions provide air movement.

What happens to chlorine in the body?

When chlorine enters the body as a result of breathing, swallowing, or skin contact, it reacts with water to produce acids. The acids are corrosive and damage cells in the body on contact.

What are the immediate health effects of chlorine exposure?

Most harmful chlorine exposures are the result of inhalation. Health effects typically begin within seconds to minutes. Following chlorine exposure, the most common symptoms are:

Airway irritation Wheezing Difficulty breathing Sore throat Cough Chest tightness Eye irritation Skin irritation

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. The development of pulmonary edema may be delayed for several hours after exposure to chlorine. Contact with compressed liquid chlorine may cause frostbite of the skin and eyes.

What can you do if you think you may have been exposed to a release of chlorine?
If you have been exposed to a release of chlorine, take the following steps:

Quickly move away from the area where you think you were exposed. If the release was indoors, go outdoors.

If you are near a release of chlorine, emergency coordinators may tell you to either evacuate the area or to "shelter in place." To "shelter in place" means to remain indoors to avoid being exposed to the chemical. While indoors, shut and lock all doors and windows, turn off air conditioners, fans and heaters, and close fireplace dampers. For more information on evacuation during a chemical emergency, see Facts About Evacuation (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/evacuationfacts.asp). For more information on sheltering in place during a chemical emergency, see Facts About Sheltering in Place (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/Shelteringfacts.asp).

Quickly remove any clothing that may have chlorine on it. If possible, clothing that is normally removed over the head (like t-shirts and sweaters) should be cut off the body to prevent additional contact with the agent.

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Place your clothing inside a plastic bag and seal the bag tightly. Do not handle the plastic bag, and wait for instructions on proper disposal. Disposing of your clothing in a sealed bag helps protect you and other people from additional exposure. Store the bagged clothing in a secure location away from people, especially children.

Quickly wash any chlorine from your skin with large amounts of soap and water, and flush your eyes with large amounts of water.

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Remove and dispose of contact lenses. Wash eyeglasses with soap and water before wearing.

If needed, seek medical attention right away.

How is chlorine exposure treated?

To limit health effects from exposure to chlorine, wash eyes and skin as quickly as possible with large amounts of water. There is no antidote for chlorine poisoning, but chlorine's effects are treatable, and most people recover. People who experience serious health effects (such as severe eye or airway irritation, severe coughing, difficulty breathing, pulmonary edema) may need hospital care.

Will laboratory tests assist in making treatment decisions if someone has been exposed to chlorine?
Laboratory testing for chlorine exposure will not be useful in making treatment decisions. A person exposed to harmful amounts of chlorine will notice it immediately because of the unpleasant odor and the resulting skin, eye, nose and/or throat irritation. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of chlorine poisoning will primarily be based upon patient history and their health effects.

How can I get more information about chlorine?

Call the following numbers, or visit the websites listed among the "Sources".

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Response Hotline (1-888-246-2675) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (1-888-422-8737) Regional Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222)

Sources:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 2002. ToxFAQs for Chlorine. Division of Toxicology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service: Atlanta, GA. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=200&tid=36 Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 2003. Medical Management Guidelines for Chlorine. Division of Toxicology, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service; Atlanta, GA. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mmg/mmg.asp?id=198&tid=36 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2003. Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Sheets. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service; Atlanta, GA. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/agentlistchem.asp Chlorine. In: Sifton DW (Ed.), Physicians Desk Reference Guide to Biological and Chemical Warfare Response, 1st ed. (pp. 48-49). Montvale, NJ: Thomson/Physicians Desk Reference, 2002.

This fact sheet is based on the most current information. It may be updated as new information becomes available.

http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/chemical_terrorism/chlorine_general.htm

dangers of chlorine

Toxic effect of chlorine skin absorption. Hazards in the bath & shower. " A five-year study by the Environmental Protection Agency concurred. Studies by Dr. Julian Andelman, Professor of Water Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, found less chemical exposure from drinking chlorine contaminated water than using it to wash the clothes or take a shower. SKIN PENETRATION H.S. Brown, Ph.D.; D.R. Bishop, MPH, and C.A. Rowan, MSPH, report that: "Assessments of drinking water safety rely on the assumption that ingestion represents the principle route of exposure." Skin penetration rates for solvents are remarkably high, and the stratum corneum is a less effective barrier to penetration than traditionally assumed. Based on published skin absorption rates, these 3 researchers used Fick's Law to determine permeability constants for selected compounds. Then they calculated dose per kilogram for 9 different exposure situations and compared this to the oral dose per kilogram. They found that skin absorption contributed from 29 to 91 percent of the total dose, averaging 64 percent. The researchers concluded that skin absorption of contaminants in municipal water has been underestimated and that ingestion may not constitute the sole or even primary route of exposure. In addition to penetration of contaminants through the skin to the body as a whole, the contaminants can adversely affect the skin itself. Chlorine chemically bonds with proteins in the hair, skin and scalp. Hair can becomes rough and brittle and lose color. Skin can dry out with itchy, flaky scalp occurring. Chlorine can aggravate sensitive areas in the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. INHALATION Chloroform (a Trihalomethane or THM) and trichloroethylene (TCE) are two highly volatile toxic chemicals that have been identified in many municipal drinking-water supplies. The National Academy of Sciences has estimated that 200 to 1000 people may die in the U.S. each year (1986) from cancers caused by ingesting these contaminants in water. However, the major threat caused by these water pollutants is far more likely to be as air pollutants in the home, according to a study by Dr. Julian Andelman. He found that in the shower when temperature and chemical concentrations increase and diameter of shower head hole decreases, volatilization increases. His data indicate that hot showers (109F) can liberate about 50% of the dissolved chloroform and 80% of the dissolved TCE into the air. Both the heat and the large surface-tovolume ratio of small droplets increase vaporization. Chlorine, TCE, chloroform, benzene and others are readily absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream. CONTAMINANTS The contaminants mentioned in this article are not necessarily in your tap water. However, if chlorine is present in the water it is most certain that other contaminants are also. Chlorine combines with organic substances forming Trihalomethanes including Chloroform. The most common volatile compounds in drinking water supplies as found by the EPA are as listed: trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, benzene,1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,2dichloroethane, ethylene chloride,1,1-dichloroethylene, bis-1,2-dichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, & trichlorobenzene. asthma and chlorine If it is, doctors say it could be because of one of many substances found in the workplaces that are linked to allergies and asthma. According to a panel of respiratory specialists who convened this week at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting in Orlando, Fl., as many as 5 percent of all adult asthma cases can be linked to workplaces allergens and irritants such as latex, mites, detergents, ammonia, chlorine, and a variety of substances used in the manufacture of plastics. "[These estimates] come from a number of different studies," said the college's president, Dr. Emil Bardana. "Some have estimated as high as 10 percent, some as low as 2 percent, and it depends on where you're doing the study, and what industry you're studying." Although experts may disagree about the prevalence of the problem, there is no doubt that substances in the workplace can cause serious illness. With more than 15 million Americans now suffering from asthma, Bardana estimates that hundreds of thousands could be experiencing work-related forms of the disease. Those workers at highest risk include people who are exposed to latex, such as health-care professionals, as well as people exposed to animals, such as veterinarians. In addition, industrial workers are often exposed to toxic and irritating chemicals, which can contribute to asthma. Workplace Causes and Prevention Doctors believe that there are two basic ways to get asthma in the workplace. The most common way to become asthmatic is through constant exposure to allergens, which are any substance your body is allergic to, such as latex. Symptoms of an allergic reaction are similar to hay fever, and include runny nose and watery eyes. The other, less common, way is to be exposed to an irritant such as

chlorine, a condition that is more likely to clear itself up after exposure. Symptoms of asthma include breathlessness, wheezing, and cough. To prevent these respiratory problems, workers can simply avoid exposure to particular allergens and irritants. Doctors suggest educating workers and employers about the dangers of certain substances, as well as the benefits of using masks, gloves, and exhaust systems to remove allergens from the workplace. One way to tell if a symptom is work-related is to note whether or not it improves when you are away from work. If your sniffles and cough mysteriously get better at night and disappear over the weekends and vacation, that could be an indicator that your illness is work-related.