Chlorine poisoning can occur through ingestion, inhalation, or contact with skin or mucous membranes. Symptoms can range from breathing difficulties to severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Immediate medical attention is required, and treatment options depend on the severity and duration of exposure.
Chlorine poisoning occurs when the chemical chlorine is ingested, inhaled, or otherwise internalized in the body. Used to prevent the growth of bacteria, chlorine is used as a commercial and industrial disinfectant, most commonly in swimming pools and water treatment plants. Once chlorine enters the body, it becomes extremely corrosive and toxic, requiring immediate medical attention.
Often used in the manufacture of pesticides, refrigerants, and cleaning and disinfecting products, chlorine is easily detected by its pungent odor. Most cases of poisoning occur when chlorine powder is mixed with bleach, resulting in the release of chlorinated gas. Even when used in low concentrations, chlorine can have a devastating effect on individuals if used, stored or handled improperly.
Chlorine’s ability to form hydrochloric and hydrochloric acids when it reacts with moisture is what makes it so dangerous. Exposure to chlorine can occur by inhalation, ingestion or by contact with skin or mucous membranes. The route and duration of exposure play a major role in diagnosis and treatment.
If inhaled, chlorine can cause swelling of the throat and promote fluid buildup in the lungs, also known as pulmonary edema, leading to breathing difficulties. Ingested chlorine will not only burn your throat and esophagus, but will cause severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Loss of vision can occur if chlorine, in any pure form, gets into the eyes. If chlorine enters the bloodstream through an opening in the skin, it can severely affect acid levels, known as pH, and damage internal organs. In other cases of exposure, when chlorine is internalized, blood pressure can plummet and an individual’s circulatory system will be compromised and at risk of collapse.
In crisis situations, time is of the essence, so you should seek medical attention immediately upon confirmation of chlorine poisoning. An individual suffering from chlorine poisoning will become symptomatic within minutes of exposure. The severity of symptoms depends on a number of factors, including how chlorine was introduced into the body, the amount and concentration, and the duration of exposure. Before seeking medical treatment, each of the above factors should be determined, as well as the individual’s weight, age, and time of exposure.
During an initial medical examination, a health care provider documents and monitors the individual’s blood pressure, respiration, temperature, and pulse. A diagnosis of chlorine poisoning is based primarily on a clinical examination and not on laboratory tests. In cases of exposure by ingestion, a camera is inserted down the throat into the esophagus and stomach, a process known as endoscopy, to determine the severity of the damage. When inhalation exposure occurs, bronchoscopy, a small camera inserted into the windpipe, is used to determine the extent of burns sustained in an individual’s airways and lungs.
Treatment is determined by the route, severity, and duration of exposure to chlorine. Treatment options for chlorine poisoning include initially introducing fluids to flush the system, if ingested; irrigation, washing of exposed skin; and the administration of oxygen to assist respiration. Critical cases of chlorine poisoning may require hospitalization for further medical treatment.
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