CHLORINE GAS TOXICITY

Course overview

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. MOST INCIDENTS OF CHLORINE EXPOSURE ARE THROUGH ACCIDENTAL INDUSTRIAL OR HOUSEHOLD EXPOSURES. TOXICITY TO CHLORINE GAS DEPENDS ON THE DOSE AND DURATION OF EXPOSURE. 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. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF CHLORINE GAS TOXICITY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING THE PATIENTS AFFECTED BY IT.