Chlorine:

Chlorine is toxic and is in your water.

Chlorine is a yellowy-green dense gas with a choking smell. It is very poisonous and was used as a weapon during the First World War. The gas is made on a large scale from salt (sodium chloride) and is used in the manufacture of bleach and PVC plastic, and to purify drinking water and to disinfect swimming pools. Our daily intake is about 6 grams, mainly as salt, but we could manage with half this amount.

The pure chemical element has the physical form of a diatomic green gas. The name chlorine is derived from chloros, meaning green, referring to the color of the gas.

Chlorine is also used widely in the manufacture of many everyday items. It is used to kill bacteria and other microbes from drinking water supplies. Even small water supplies are now routinely chlorinated. It is also used widely in paper product production, antiseptic, dyestuffs, food, insecticides, paints, petroleum products, plastics, medicines, textiles, solvents, and many other consumer products.

Organic chemistry uses this element extensively as an oxidizing agent and in substitution because chlorine often imparts many desired properties in an organic compound when it is substituted for hydrogen (synthetic rubber). Other uses are in the production of chlorates, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and in the bromine extraction.

Chlorine is a highly reactive gas. It is a naturally occurring element. The largest users of chlorine are companies that make ethylene dichloride and other chlorinated solvents, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins, chlorofluorocarbons, and propylene oxide. Paper companies use chlorine to bleach paper. Water and wastewater treatment plants use chlorine to reduce water levels of microorganisms that can spread disease to humans (disinfection).

Breathing small amounts of chlorine for short periods of time adversely affects the human respiratory system. Effects differ from coughing and chest pain, to water retention in the lungs. Chlorine irritates the skin, the eyes, and the respiratory system.

For more information regarding chlorine: Information - Filter Ad

For more information regarding chlorine: Information - Filter Ad

For more information regarding chlorine: Information - Filter Ad

For more information regarding chlorine: Dr. Mercola 11/13/2004

For more information regarding chlorine: Dr. Mercola 2/9/2005

For more information regarding chlorine: Dr. Mercola 3/19/2005