| Agent Name |
Chlorine |
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| CAS Number |
7782-50-5 |
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| Formula |
Cl2 |
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| Major Category |
Toxic Gases & Vapors |
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| Synonyms |
Molecular chlorine; [NIOSH] Bertholite; [ChemIDplus] UN1017 |
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| Category |
Oxidizers |
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| Description |
Greenish-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor; Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used in water purification, paper manufacturing, and the synthesis of chlorinated hydrocarbons; [Levy, p. 554] |
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| 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 Chlorine. [ERG 2008] A lachrymator; [CHEMINFO] Chlorine is fibrogenic to the lungs in the context of an acute inhalation exposure complicated by bronchiolitis obliterans. |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR Medical Management Guidelines |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
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| TIH |
Yes |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
0.5 ppm |
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| STEL (ACGIH) |
1 ppm |
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| PEL (OSHA) | Ceiling(OSHA) = 1 ppm |
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| MAK |
0.5 ppm |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
10 ppm |
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| 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]. |
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| Odor Threshold Low |
0.02 ppm |
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| Odor Threshold High |
3.4 ppm |
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| RD50 |
9 ppm |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 293 ppm/1 hr |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.080 ppm); |
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| Half Life |
No reports found; [TDR, p. 308] |
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| Reference Link |
International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO) |
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| Flammability (NFPA) |
0: will not burn |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Toxic Pneumonitis |
Yes |
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| Fibrogenic |
Yes |
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| Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
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| Lacrimator |
Yes |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: CHLORINE
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