Toxic industrial materials- chlorine. Toxicology. Characteristics and Medical Activities
Written by Anam Hussain
General Characteristics:
- Is part of the suffocating toxic chemicals group
- Most aggressive toxic industrial material
- Yellow/green gas with distinctive odour
- Heavier than air and accumulates at bottom of poorly ventilates spaces
- Moderately soluble in water
- Strong oxidiser so reacts easy with flammable materials
Sources of exposure:
- Inhalation exposures can occur environmentally or occupationally
- Industrial bleaching operations
- Participation in sewage treatment
- Transportation releases
- Storage tank failures
- Chemical warfare
- Household accidents: inappropriate mixing of hypochlorite cleaning solutions with acidic agents
Early response to chlorine exposure depends on:
- Density of gas
- Duration of exposure
- Water content of exposed tissues
- Individual susceptibility
Pathophysiology:
- Target organs: respiratory and GI tract
- Chlorine reacts with water of the mucosa in the eyes, nose mouth and respiratory tract.
- Cellular injury develops from oxidation of function groups of cellular components
- This is due to formation of HCL and hypochlorous acid from tissue water reaction and free radical formation
- Necrosis occurs from direct effects of acid formation
- Necrosis develops quickly due to intracellular cell injury from nitration and oxidation injuries