The Effects of Exposure to Chlorine
When most people think of chlorine they normally think about washing clothes or swimming pools or some types of cleaners that have chlorine as an additive. Chlorine has been around for decades and has been used in everything from paper mills to industrial complexes. Chlorine has also been used for items not related to cleaning or industrial, but to harm, hurt and kill people.
During World War 1, chlorine was used as a chemical inhalant that would affect soldiers in ways that would prevent them from fighting because they had been exposed to its dangerous gases. Chlorine has a long history first being discovered as Elemental chlorine in 1774, later on in 1850 chlorine would help purify the water in London to control the outbreak of cholera. In 1915 chlorine was introduced as a gas by the Germans in WW1 and was used against allies to hurt, or even kill. The problem back then is they didn't really understand the effects that chlorine gas had on the human organs and as a result many did die from the effects. What made it worse is they ended up killing many of their own soldiers because the invention of gas masks wouldn't come till much later.
Chlorine today is used in many ways but the effects are still the same. Chlorine in its liquid form is not really harmful. When it turns to gas is when it's deadly. Most people are not at risk when chlorine is handled with care; it is only when people get careless that chlorine can have damaging effects. If a worker works in a factory that uses chlorine on a daily bases they cannot help to have been exposed to some type of chlorine gas. We do know that long term exposure does have effects and the effects can be terminal.
Chlorine is not a natural product, it has to be made. It is made when a salt molecule is split by electricity causing a gas. Liquid chlorine is made by mixing or bubbling a bit of sodium hydroxide and water thus changing all solutions to sodium hypochlorite. Chlorine bleach is bio-degradable; it began as a salt and returns to salt. The problem is when chlorine is mixed with other chemicals; this is when it becomes volatile. Depending on the chemical chlorine is mixed with it normally will form a toxic gas. This toxic gas is what's very dangerous.
When working in an industry you could become exposed to chlorine gases. Even in well ventilated areas you can still become exposed and suffer long term effects. The problem with chlorine gas is that the gas is heavier than oxygen making it settle around low-lying areas. Whether in industrial plants or chemical spills this is how people come in contact with this deadly gas. Normally when there is some sort of spill, regulation requires everyone to be evacuated. Some don't get the message in time.
The problems that accompany chlorine exposure include excessive eye watering, blurred vision, burning of the nose, throat, and eyes, tightness in the chest, and severe couching. If for any reason some one has been exposed for longer periods of time the problems or symptoms could be much worse even deadly. Severe exposure could cause pulmonary edema and even the inability to breathe. Long term effects of exposure to chlorine can cause chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and if these conditions aren't taken care of, it could cause pulmonary suffocation.