Na Wu, Wang Yiran, Li An, Zhu Xiaoli, Xue Changjiang, Ye Qiao
Department of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Clinical Center for Interstitial Lung Diseases, 74639Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Toxicol Ind Health. 2021 Sep;37(9):513-519. doi: 10.1177/07482337211019180. Epub 2021 Aug 3.
Chlorine is an irritant gas that is widely used in water purification. Several previous reports had reported accidents of inhalation injuries at swimming pools. However, there have been limited data on the detection of on-site chlorine concentration. This study aims to report a chlorine leakage accident at a swimming pool caused by improper disinfection operations. Calculation using the gas diffusion simulation software showed that the on-site chlorine concentration was 221.45 ppm. When the accident occurred, there were 92 individuals at the swimming pool and the gym, among which 61 were referred to the emergency department of five different hospitals for feeling ill. Among them, 22 patients underwent chest high-resolution computed tomography scans in our hospital. According to the findings, 4 (18.2%) patients had peribronchitis, 3 (13.6%) had tracheobronchitis, 4 (18.2%) had pneumonia, 4 (18.2%) had interstitial pulmonary edema, and 3 (13.6%) had alveolar pulmonary edema. The symptoms of 22 patients who visited our hospital significantly improved after comprehensive treatment. Three months after the accident, 8 of 17 patients presented obstructive ventilation defects or small airway dysfunction. The accidental exposure to chlorine may induce acute poisoning with various respiratory injuries and prolonged lung dysfunction.
氯是一种刺激性气体，广泛用于水净化。此前已有几份报告报道了游泳池吸入损伤事故。然而，关于现场氯浓度检测的数据有限。本研究旨在报告一起因消毒操作不当导致的游泳池氯气泄漏事故。使用气体扩散模拟软件计算得出，现场氯浓度为221.45 ppm。事故发生时，游泳池和健身房有92人，其中61人因身体不适被转诊至五家不同医院的急诊科。其中22例患者在我院接受了胸部高分辨率计算机断层扫描。根据检查结果，4例（18.2%）患者患有细支气管炎，3例（13.6%）患有气管支气管炎，4例（18.2%）患有肺炎，4例（18.2%）患有间质性肺水肿，3例（13.6%）患有肺泡性肺水肿。22例来我院就诊的患者经综合治疗后症状明显改善。事故发生三个月后，17例患者中有8例出现阻塞性通气功能障碍或小气道功能障碍。意外接触氯气可能导致各种呼吸道损伤的急性中毒和长期肺功能障碍。
