| Agent Name | Chlorine |
|---|---|
| CAS Number | 7782-50-5 |
| Formula | Cl2 |
| Major Category | Toxic Gases & Vapors |
| Synonyms | Molecular chlorine; [NIOSH] Bertholite; [ChemIDplus] UN1017 |
| Category | Oxidizers |
| Description | Greenish-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor; Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas; [NIOSH] Vapor density = 2.48 (heavier than air); [HSDB] |
| Sources/Uses | Used in water purification, paper manufacturing, and the synthesis of chlorinated hydrocarbons; [Levy, p. 409] |
| Comments | Liquid causes first degree burns on short exposure; [CHRIS] Listed as one of "major irritant airborne toxicants"; [LaDou, p. 523] Possible frostbite from contact with liquid; [NIOSH] When spilled in water “Chlorine dioxide, hydrate, frozen” can release large amounts of Chlorine. [ERG 2012] A lachrymator; [CHEMINFO] Causes lachrymation; [ICSC] Chlorine is fibrogenic to the lungs in the context of an acute inhalation exposure complicated by bronchiolitis obliterans. |
| Reference Link | |
| Exposure Assessment | |
| Skin Designation (ACGIH) | Insufficient data |
| TIH | Yes |
| STEL (ACGIH) | 1 ppm |
| PEL (OSHA) | Ceiling(OSHA) = 1 ppm |
| MAK | 0.5 ppm |
| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs | Exposures to 30 ppm have been reported to cause intense coughing fits and exposure to 40 to 60 ppm for 30 to 60 minutes or more may cause serious damage [ILO 1971]. A concentration of 34 to 51 ppm has been reported to be lethal in 1 to 1.5 hours [Freitag 1941] while 14 to 21 ppm has been suggested as being dangerous within 0.5 to 1 hour [NPIRI 1983]. |
| Odor Threshold Low | 0.02 ppm |
| Odor Threshold High | 3.4 ppm |
| RD50 | 9 ppm |
| Lethal Concentration | LC50 (rat) = 293 ppm/1 hr |
| Explanatory Notes | Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.080 ppm); |
| Half Life | No reports found; [TDR, p. 308] |
| Reference Link | |
| Adverse Effects | |
| Lacrimator | Yes |
| Chronic Bronchitis | Yes |
| Toxic Pneumonitis | Yes |
| Fibrogenic | Yes |
| Dermatotoxin | Skin Burns |
| Links to Other NLM Databases | |
| Health Studies | Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: |
| Toxicity Information | |
| Chemical Information | |
| Biomedical References | |
| Related Information in HazMap | |
| Diseases | Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: |
| Processes | Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: |
| Activities | Activities with risk of exposure: |
Agent Name
Chlorine
CAS Number
7782-50-5
Formula
Cl2
Major Category
Toxic Gases & Vapors
Synonyms
Molecular chlorine; [NIOSH] Bertholite; [ChemIDplus] UN1017
Category
Oxidizers
Description
Greenish-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor; Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas; [NIOSH] Vapor density = 2.48 (heavier than air); [HSDB]
Sources/Uses
Used in water purification, paper manufacturing, and the synthesis of chlorinated hydrocarbons; [Levy, p. 409]
Comments
Liquid causes first degree burns on short exposure; [CHRIS] Listed as one of "major irritant airborne toxicants"; [LaDou, p. 523] Possible frostbite from contact with liquid; [NIOSH] When spilled in water “Chlorine dioxide, hydrate, frozen” can release large amounts of Chlorine. [ERG 2012] A lachrymator; [CHEMINFO] Causes lachrymation; [ICSC] Chlorine is fibrogenic to the lungs in the context of an acute inhalation exposure complicated by bronchiolitis obliterans.
Reference Link
Exposure Assessment
Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Insufficient data
TIH
Yes
STEL (ACGIH)
1 ppm
PEL (OSHA)
Ceiling(OSHA) = 1 ppm
MAK
0.5 ppm
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs
Exposures to 30 ppm have been reported to cause intense coughing fits and exposure to 40 to 60 ppm for 30 to 60 minutes or more may cause serious damage [ILO 1971]. A concentration of 34 to 51 ppm has been reported to be lethal in 1 to 1.5 hours [Freitag 1941] while 14 to 21 ppm has been suggested as being dangerous within 0.5 to 1 hour [NPIRI 1983].
Odor Threshold Low
0.02 ppm
Odor Threshold High
3.4 ppm
RD50
9 ppm
Lethal Concentration
LC50 (rat) = 293 ppm/1 hr
Explanatory Notes
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.080 ppm);
Half Life
No reports found; [TDR, p. 308]
Reference Link
Adverse Effects
Lacrimator
Yes
Chronic Bronchitis
Yes
Toxic Pneumonitis
Yes
Fibrogenic
Yes
Dermatotoxin
Skin Burns
Links to Other NLM Databases
Toxicity Information
Chemical Information
Biomedical References
Related Information in HazMap
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: