Chlorine is a chemical that prevents bacteria from growing. Chlorine poisoning occurs when someone swallows or breathes in (inhales) chlorine.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

• Chlorine, which reacts with water in and out of the body to form hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid. Both are extremely poisonous.

• Gas released when mixing bleach with some of the powdered cleansing products and ammonia (chloramine gas)
• Gas released when opening a partially filled industrial container of chlorine tablets that have been sitting for several months (for example, the first opening of a container after a pool has been closed all winter)
• Mild cleaners
• Some bleach products
• Swimming pool water (and tablets used in swimming pool water)

Note: This list may not include all uses of chlorine.

• Airways and lungs
  • Breathing difficulty (from breathing in the chlorine)
  • Throat swelling (may also cause breathing difficulty)
  • Water filling the lungs (pulmonary edema)
• Blood
  • Severe change in acid levels of the blood (pH balance) which leads to damage in all of the body organs
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Loss of vision
  • Severe pain in the throat
  • Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
• Gastrointestinal
  • Blood in the stool
  • Burns of the food pipe (esophagus)
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Vomiting blood
• Heart and blood vessels
  • Collapse
  • Low blood pressure that develops rapidly
• Skin
  • Burns
  • Holes (necrosis) in the skin or tissues underneath
  • Irritation