If the chlorine release was from household cleaners or chemicals, open windows and doors to let in fresh air. Leave the area until the gas has gone away. If you cannot get away, go to the highest ground possible because chlorine is heavier than air and will sink.
Chlorine gas can stay in the air for just a few minutes to several hours. It depends on the size and ventilation of the area as well as the amount of gas present. Open windows and doors to let in fresh air.
If the poisoning is due to chlorine gas, leave the area immediately and move somewhere where there is clean air, which may mean going outside. If chlorine has contaminated skin or clothing, remove the clothing and wash the entire body with soap and water.
Two forms of vitamin C, ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate, will neutralize chlorine. Neither is considered a hazardous chemical.
Respiratory symptoms may be immediate or delayed for several hours or days after exposure to chlorine. Symptoms generally resolve within 6 hours after mild exposures, but may continue for several days after severe exposures.
Exposure to low concentrations of chlorine (1 to 10 ppm) may cause eye and nasal irritation, sore throat, and coughing. Inhalation of higher concentrations of chlorine gas (>15 ppm) can rapidly lead to respiratory distress with airway constriction and accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema).
If the chlorine release was indoors, get out of the building. If the chlorine release was from household cleaners or chemicals, open windows and doors to let in fresh air. Leave the area until the gas has gone away.
Nebulized sodium bicarbonate may be another adjunctive treatment for chlorine pulmonary exposures. Theoretically, inhaled bicarbonate can neutralize hypochlorous and hydrochloric acids, decreasing severity of lung injury.
Vitamin C effectively neutralizes chlorine and is safer to handle than sulfur-based dechlorination chemicals. The sodium ascorbate form of vitamin C has less affect on pH than the ascorbic acid form.
Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) is normally used in the absorption of chlorine containing gases. When chlorine reacts with the caustic salt is formed. Salt has limited solubility in scrubber solutions.
In a well-ventilated area, bleach fumes dissipate faster, sometimes within just a few hours. In contrast, the smell can linger for days in a closed-off room with no airflow.
Avoid further exposure. Leave the area where the chlorine was released and get fresh air immediately. If the chlorine was released outdoors, leave the area.
Chlorine absorbs some wavelengths of ultraviolet and visible sunlight and undergoes rapid chemical reactions in the atmosphere. The atmospheric half-life and lifetime of chlorine due to these reactions is estimated to be about 10 minutes and 14 minutes, respectively.
Entering the environment
Because of its high reactivity chlorine dioxide will not persist long in the air, water, or soil environments - up to minutes in air and up to hours in the others.
Wet scrubbers circulate sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to neutralize the chlorine gas during a leak.
Epsom salt can help neutralize chlorine, preventing it from sticking to your skin and hair, which is particularly useful for pool swimmers who are often exposed to chlorinated water.
However, you will need a higher amount of vitamin C to remove chloramine. Approximately 40 mg will dechlorinate 1 gallon of water.
Chlorine gas can stay in indoor air for just a few minutes or hours (between 1-8 on average) before dissipating. This is generally when the concentrations are fairly low and there is adequate ventilation.
No antidotes are available. Emergency department (ED) personnel are at low risk for cross-contamination in cases of exposure to chlorine gas. However, the patient's clothing should be removed if it has been contaminated with liquid chlorine.
Short-term exposure to chlorine in air
throat irritation at 5-15 ppm. immediate chest pain, vomiting, changes in breathing rate, and cough at 30 ppm. lung injury (toxic pneumonitis) and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) at 40-60 ppm. death after 30 minute exposure to 430 ppm.
Treatment of chlorine gas exposure is mostly supportive. Removal of the individual from the contaminated environment is the first step of management. Clinicians will assess the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation and provide humidified oxygen as necessary. Severe exposures may require endotracheal intubation.
When a leak occurs, chlorine is removed from the area and passed through a bank of Safetysorb where it is neutralized, releasing only clean air. After reacting with chlorine, Safetysorb is non-flammable and produces a harmless by-product that can be disposed of as a non-hazardous solid waste.