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Liquid Chlorine Safety

It keeps your laundry white and drinking water clean. For these reasons, chlorine is the most commonly manufactured chemical in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition to household bleach, products including solvents, pesticides and even rubber contain chlorine. Liquid chlorine can be harmful to the human body, however, so proper safety precautions should be taken when handling liquid chlorine.

  1. Makeup

    • The Material Safety and Data Sheet (MSDS) for liquid chlorine, for which the chemical formula is Cl2, shows that chlorine is a chemical element. While the gas appears greenish yellow, the liquid is amber in color. It is a corrosive chemical that, while stable under most conditions, cannot decompose and will react with most metals.

    Odor/Inhalation

    • If you've ever opened a bottle of bleach, you know that chlorine has a pungent odor. The fumes can be suffocating and irritating to the nasal passages as well as the entire respiratory tract. Symptoms can range from a mild irritation with coughing and difficulty breathing to death by suffocation. If you or someone you know is experiencing irritation from inhalation of liquid chlorine fumes, leave or remove the person from the area immediately to a place with fresh air. If the person has stopped breathing, perform CPR and call 911 immediately. Serious cases of exposure to liquid chlorine can cause emphysema, asthma and other respiratory diseases, warns the MSDS.

    Direct Contact with Skin

    • Liquid chlorine is a corrosive chemical, so if it comes into direct contact with human skin, it can be irritating or even cause blisters or burns, reports the CDC. Liquid chlorine can burn and corrode the eyes, and it can even cause death in serious cases, according to the MSDS. If liquid chlorine gets on your clothing, remove it right away in the shower. Do not pull soaked clothing over your head; cut it off instead, warns the CDC. Wash your skin thoroughly with soap and water. If it gets into your eyes, flush them out with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical help.

    Fire Concerns

    • While liquid chlorine is not combustible, it is best to remove any containers of it from fire zones (anywhere it reaches 485 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter) as its vapors can escape and be inhaled during a fire. Also, some metals will catch on fire if they are near chlorine, so having it nearby can result in a fire or explosion, according to the MSDS.

    Protection

    • When handling high concentrations of liquid chlorine it is best to wear full body protection (a chemical suit), goggles and a gas mask that covers the entire face, advises the MSDS. With any exposure to the substance, avoid inhalation or direct contact with the skin.

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