Chlorine
General Description
- OSHA IMIS Code Number: 0640
- Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 7782-50-5
- NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: FO2100000
- Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Emergency Response Guidebook: 1017 124
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Chlorine: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits
- OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):
- General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 1 ppm, 3 mg/m3 Ceiling
- Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 1 ppm, 3 mg/m3 TWA
- American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.5 ppm, 1.5 mg/m3 TWA; 1 ppm, 2.9 mg/m3 STEL; Appendix A4 (Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen)
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 0.5 ppm TWA; 1 ppm STEL
Health Factors
- NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 10 ppm
- Potential Symptoms: Eye, nose, mouth, skin burns; lacrimation; rhinorrhea; coughing, choking; nausea, vomiting; substernal pain; headache; dizziness, syncope; pulmonary edema; persistent airways obstruction, bronchial hyper-responsiveness; hypoxemia; dermatitis; CNS impairment (balance, reaction time, color confusion, visual field performance, blink latency, cognition, verbal recall, adverse mood states); decreased grip strength
- Health Effects: Lung injury (HE11); Irritation-Eyes, Nose, Throat, Bronchi, Skin---Marked (HE14); Central Nervous System Disturbances (HE7)
- Affected Organs: Respiratory system; CNS
- Notes:
- The persistent respiratory symptoms after acute exposure have been called "Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome" (RADS), and unlike occupational asthma, RADS appears to be less responsive to bronchodilator (albuterol) inhalation therapy.
- Literature Basis:
- (persistent respiratory symptoms)
Bhérer, L., Cushman, R., Courteau, J.P., Quévillon, M., Côté, G., Bourbeau, J., L'Archevéque, J., Cartier, A. and Malo, J.L.: Survey of construction workers repeatedly exposed to chlorine over a three to six month period in a pulpmill. II. Follow up of affected workers by questionnaire, spirometry, and assessment of bronchial responsiveness 18 to 24 months after exposure ended. Occup. Environ. Med. 51(4): 225-228, 1994. - (resistance to albuterol)
Gautrin, D., Boulet, L.P., Boutet, M., Dugas, M., Bhérer, L., L'Archevéque, J., Laviolette, M., Côté, G. and Malo, J.L.: Is reactive airways dysfunction syndrome a variant of occupational asthma? J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 93(1 Pt. 1): 12-22, 1994. - (CNS impairment)
Kilburn, K.H.: Chlorine-induced damage documented by neurophysiological, neuropsychological, and pulmonary testing. Arch. Environ. Health 55(1): 31-37, 2000. - Date Last Revised: 05/13/2003
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
Primary Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method (SLC1):
- Midget Fritted Glass Bubbler (MFGB) containing Sulfamic Acid solution (0.1%)
- maximum volume: 240 Liters
- maximum flow rate: 1.0 L/min (TWA)
- maximum volume: 15 Liters
- maximum flow rate: 1.0 L/min (STEL or Ceiling)
- current analytical method: Ion Specific Electrode; ISE
- analytical solvent: Carbon Disulfide
- method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-101)
- method classification: Fully Validated
- note: Submit as separate sample. If Chlorine containing compounds (as available Chlorine) are also expected, use a PTFE membrane/polypropylene cassette, followed by a Midget Fritted Glass Bubbler (MFGB) containing 15 mL 0.1% Sulfamic Acid for Chlorine Collection. Sample analyzed for equivalent chlorine levels. After sampling transfer membrane to separate vial containing 5 mL 0.1% Sulfamic acid. Seal and ship to the Salt Lake Technical Center.
On-Site Sampling Techniques/Methods:
- Detector Tube
- manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
- model/type: 8014-109SB
- sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
- upper measurement limit: 10 ppm
- detection limit: approx. 0.1 ppm
- overall uncertainty: unknown
- method reference: on-site air secondary (SEI Certified)
- Detector Tube
- manufacturer: Gastec
- model/type: 8La
- sampling information: 0.5 to 5 strokes
- upper measurement limit: 16 ppm
- detection limit: 0.05 ppm
- overall uncertainty: 16.4% for 0.5 to 2 ppm, 8.2% for 2 to 8 ppm
- method reference: on-site air secondary (SEI Certified)
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