Morim Ashkan, Guldner Gregory T.
University of California Riverside
Gaseous chlorine is poisonous and classified as a pulmonary irritant. It has intermediate water solubility with the capability of causing acute damage to the upper and lower respiratory tract. Chlorine gas has many industrial uses, but it was also once used as a chemical weapon in World War I. Today, most incidents of chlorine exposure are through accidental industrial or household exposures. As for industrial exposures, there have been several instances of train accidents carrying liquid chlorine that caused the release of chlorine gas to the surrounding environment. At home, a mixture of chlorine bleach with other household products that contain acid or ammonia is a common source of exposure to chlorine gas. Toxicity to chlorine gas depends on the dose and duration of exposure. 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. Because of its strong odor, chlorine gas can be detected easily. Symptoms of chlorine gas exposure include burning of the conjunctiva, throat, and the bronchial tree. Higher concentrations can produce bronchospasm, lower pulmonary injury, and delayed pulmonary edema.
气态氯有毒，被归类为肺部刺激物。它具有中等水溶性，能够对上、下呼吸道造成急性损伤。氯气有许多工业用途，但在第一次世界大战中也曾被用作化学武器。如今，大多数氯气暴露事件是通过工业事故或家庭意外接触导致的。就工业暴露而言，曾发生过几起载有液态氯的火车事故，导致氯气泄漏到周围环境中。在家庭中，含氯漂白剂与其他含有酸或氨的家用产品混合是接触氯气的常见来源。氯气的毒性取决于接触剂量和时间。在浓度为1至3 ppm时，氯气会刺激眼睛和口腔黏膜；浓度为15 ppm时，会出现肺部症状，在430 ppm时，30分钟内即可致命。由于其气味强烈，氯气很容易被检测到。接触氯气的症状包括结膜、喉咙和支气管树灼痛。更高浓度可导致支气管痉挛、下肺肺损伤和迟发性肺水肿。
