Is chlorine dangerous to humans

Richard Lee

Jun 20, 2025

10 min read

At 5–15 ppm, there is moderate mucus membrane irritation.Chlorine gas poisoning is an illness resulting from the effects of exposure to chlorine beyond the threshold limit value .Balises :ChlorineDangerousBadEnvironmental quality

6 Things You Should Never Do With Bleach

A risk unique to bleach is the potential for producing toxic gases, namely chlorine gas, which has been used as a chemical weapon. This knowledge stems from mass poisoning catastrophes.Chlorine is a greenish-yellow, highly reactive halogen gas that has a pungent, suffocating odor.Arsenic is a natural component of the earth’s crust and is widely distributed throughout the environment in the air, water and land. Chlorine - History of guideline development.The 10 chemicals listed below are some of the most poisonous, explosive, corrosive and downright dangerous in existence. At 1–3 ppm, there is mild mucus membrane irritation that can usually be tolerated for about an hour.Chlorine - Chemical fact sheet in the GDWQ. How does chlorine added to drinking water kill bacteria and other harmful organisms? Why doesn't it harm us? People are exposed to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic through drinking contaminated water, using contaminated water in food preparation and irrigation of food crops .HAZARD SUMMARY. Mixing ammonia, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or other chemicals with sodium hypochlorite may cause chlorine gas to be released, a toxic chemical you don’t .Chlorine exposure can damage your circulatory system.Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen widely used in fertilizers and pharmaceuticals.

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Chlorine: Exposure, Decontamination, Treatment

This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. The revised IDLH is 5 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Elkins 1950 ]. Fluoride can also become concentrated in bone—stimulating bone cell growth, altering the tissue’s structure, and weakening the skeleton.To reiterate: It is critical that you avoid mixing cleaning products that contain chlorine bleach, ammonia, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.Chlorine is poisonous, and swallowing or inhaling it can cause harm. Most exposures to chlorine occur by inhalation.As scientists have looked into the potentially dangerous effects of chlorine, use of the chemical has been linked to a wide range of ailments, including various . CDC via Unsplash; Canva. The effects can be horrific, as the World War One poet,. However, some people are more sensitive to chlorine. It is a disinfectant similar to bleach and is unsafe when used in large amounts.At concentrations of 1 to 3 ppm, chlorine gas acts as an eye and oral mucous membrane irritant; at 15 ppm, there is an onset of pulmonary symptoms, and it can be fatal at 430 ppm within 30 minutes. Now I am a bit worried about the chemical absorption of chlorine and other additives, including other people’s body products, in . For example, in 1943, 163 prison inmates were accidentally poisoned resulting in 47 fatalities.In humans, lethal doses have been reported in the range of 40–80 mg/kg b.Here are six things experts say you shouldn’t do with liquid bleach. Breathing Chlorine Dioxide can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of . If you inhale chlorine, it reacts with the water in your lungs, converting it into powerful acids. It is highly toxic in its inorganic form.Humans can detect low levels of chlorine gas.

Chlorine trifluoride

Toxicity of alcide. No mortality occurred among the animals, but during the first day’s exposure, the dogs became nauseated, coughed up .Chemical Classification: Inorganic substances, Metals/Elements (the simplest forms of matter) Summary: At room temperature, chlorine is a yellow-green gas that is heavier than air and has a strong irritating odor. For individual chemicals, the GDWQ also consider: Analytical methods and . 1980; Whitford 1996). Chlorine is used in the .Balises :Chlorine ExposurePublish Year:2021ChloriteChlorinated water is considered safe when pools have the correct concentration of chlorine. In: Hygienic guide series. Nausea and vomiting.Balises :Chlorine Gas ExposureToxicologyUnited StatesReactive Airway Disease In humans, the threshold concentration for detection of the odor of chlorine gas ranges from 0. Written by WebMD Editorial . This produced chlorine-free sodium hydroxide, but released tiny traces . 1994; Eichler et al.Balises :BleachRiskCleaningChlorine Gas Molecular chlorine.These fact sheets summarize the information on occurrence and health effects of the chemicals covered, presenting guideline values where these have been derived and the . Signs and symptoms. Most people will be able to smell chlorine in drinking water from about 0. Getting bromine liquid or gas on your skin could cause skin irritation and burns.Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH) .Balises :Chlorine ExposureNational Center for Biotechnology InformationToxicity

Chlorine Dioxide & Chlorite

Liquid bromine that touches your skin may first cause a cooling . An MRL is defined as an estimate of daily human exposure to a substance that is . Because of its sweet taste, antifreeze, which contains ethylene glycol, has caused unintended deaths and injuries in pets and humans alike. Because chlorine dioxide rapidly breaks down in air to chlorine gas and oxygen, you would not likely breathe air containing dangerous levels of chlorine dioxide, but if you did, it could be absorbed across your lungs.Because chlorine dioxide is very reactive, it is able to kill bacteria and microorganisms in water. MINIMAL RISK LEVELS (MRLs) Estimates of exposure levels posing minimal risk to humans (MRLs) have been made for chlorine.Chlorine levels up to 4 milligrams per liter (mg/L or 4 parts per million (ppm)) are considered safe in drinking water. Blurred vision. Its irritant properties have been studied in . In this unfortunate .2 milligrams per litre.Balises :ChlorineBBC NewsDetergent Chlorine's odor or irritant properties are discernible by most individuals at 0. [Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas. Documentation for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) Value Profile: Chlorine—Documents the criteria and information sources that have been used by NIOSH to determine immediately dangerous to life or health concentrations.6 milligrams per litre, but some people are particularly sensitive and can detect amounts as low as 0. Don’t mix bleach with other cleaning products. Burning sensation in the nose, throat, and eyes.

Chlorine Dioxide & Chlorite

Ammonia occurs naturally and is produced by human activity. In cosmetic products, borax is sometimes used as an emulsifier, buffering agent, or preservative for moisturizing products, creams, shampoos, gels . “Two dogs and 20 rats were exposed 6 hours/day for 2 days to 21 ppm. Chlorine can irritate the eyes, skin,.32 ppm which is less .Balises :Chlorine Gas ExposureToxicityPublish Year:2021

RELEVANCE TO PUBLIC HEALTH

Entering the environment.] Nonflammable Gas, but a strong oxidizer.It can neutralize odors and soften hard water. Chlorine Dioxide can affect you when breathed in.Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the following data presented by Horn and Weir [1955] concerning the inhalation toxicology of chlorine trifluoride.CAS#: 7782-50-5. Because of its high reactivity chlorine . Medically Reviewed by Sabrina Felson, MD on July 16, 2023.Balises :HealthChlorine in Drinking Water HarmfulSafeChloramine, Miracle Mineral Solution, 28% sodium chlorite) and touted as a cure-all for autism, malaria, .Balises :HealthChlorineStatementBalises :HealthChlorineUnited StatesDrinking waterChlorite

Harmful effects of chlorine dioxide exposure

low blood pressure. Most releases will be as the gas to the atmosphere or in wastewater streams from plants that make or use chlorine dioxide. It is one in a series of Public Health .Its reactivity makes it very toxic. The reaction occurs when . At this level, harmful health effects are unlikely to occur.

Chlorine is mainly used as bleach in the manufacture of paper . Therefore, background exposure of the general population to chlorine is not . Abdel-Rahman MS, Gerges SE, Alliger H [1982].

What to Know About Chlorine. Chlorine dioxide kills .

Chlorine dioxide

CHLORINE DIOXIDE

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.Related NIOSH Resources.ToxFAQs TM for Chlorine. Don’t keep these animals in water that contains these disinfectants.Chlorine dioxide and chlorite usually enter the body when people drink water that has been disinfected with chlorine dioxide.Balises :ToxicityChlorine GuidelinesChemical Burns From Chlorine Exposure Ranked in the USA as one of the most hazardous compounds (worst 10%) to ecosystems. Reacts explosively or forms explosive compounds with many common substances such as acetylene, ether, turpentine, ammonia, fuel gas, hydrogen & finely divided metals. You are not likely . Greenish-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor. These ingredients are especially dangerous, as they create .

Until fairly recently the process used mercury as one of the electrodes. J Appl Toxicol 2(3):160-164.), be dizzy, or have watery eyes. Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life.Moreover, fluoride itself may be dangerous at high levels.

What Chlorine Is

Chlorine poisoning: Causes, symptoms, and treatment

Other than adding water, bleach should be used on its own.Our research has shown that exposure to chlorine gas leads to airway inflammation and airway hyperreactivity – swelling and narrowing of the bronchial tubes that carry air to and from your lungs,.Chlorine and chloramine are toxic to fish, other aquatic animals, reptiles, and amphibians.Balises :Chlorine Gas ExposureChlorine Poisoning SymptomsToxicology

Chlorine

The signs of acute chlorine .; NIOSHTIC-2 search results on Chlorine—NIOSHTIC-2 is a searchable database of .

Balises :HealthChlorine Gas ExposureNational Center for Biotechnology Information

Water Sanitation and Health

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Chlorine: When is it Dangerous for Your Health?

Chlorine is named after the Greek word for green.Breathing bromine gas could cause you to cough, have trouble breathing, get a headache, have irritation of your mucous membranes (inside your mouth, nose, etc. Chlorine dioxide. Signs you’re suffering from refrigerant poisoning include: Swelling in your throat or sinuses .First Aid & Emergencies.Chlorine dioxide is well established to be harmful to all forms of life.From red, irritated eyes to dry, brittle hair, the unpleasant consequences of exposure to chlorine in pools is real.

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Chemical fact sheets: Chlorine

When ammonia comes into contact with moist tissues such as the eyes, throat, and lungs corrosive injury can .

Mercury and health

It is an important source of nitrogen, which is needed by plants and animals. Contact can irritate the skin and eyes causing watery eyes and seeing halos around the lights. If this happens, it is important to seek medical care right . Like other halogens, chlorine exists in the diatomic state in nature.Auteur : Aaron Kandola

Chlorine Poisoning: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments

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Annie Spratt via Unsplash; Ben Mills, Public Domain . PDF Version [93 KB] This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions (FAQs) about chlorine. Symptoms of this problem can include: changes in the pH balance of your blood. Here’s why those effects happen, plus expert tips to prevent and remedy .Immediate signs and symptoms of chlorine exposure.Because it is so reactive, chlorine gas is normally not detected in the environment except at low levels in seawater aerosols. Chest tightness.