What is chlorine gas (aka chlorine)? And what are its dangers? What are the symptoms of poisoning by it? How is it prevented? What is the first aid in case of exposure? The answers are in this report.
Twelve people were killed and more than 250 others were injured as a result of a chlorine gas leak after a container containing highly toxic substances fell from a ship in the port of Aqaba in southern Jordan on Monday.
The government crisis center said in a statement yesterday evening, carried by the French press agency, “at exactly five o’clock this afternoon, a chlorine gas leak occurred in the port of Aqaba as a result of the fall and explosion of a tank containing this substance. The accident caused the death of 12 people and the injury of 260, including Jordanians and foreigners.” He pointed out that “123 of them are still receiving treatment in hospitals.”
What is chlorine (chlorine)?
Chlorine is an industrial element found in some household products, and sometimes comes in the form of a poisonous gas, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Chlorine is widely used as a disinfectant and water purifier, but if inhaled, it turns into hydrochloric acid, which can lead to burning inside the body and suffocation, according to Reuters.
Chlorine gas can be compressed and cooled to turn it into a liquid so that it can be shipped and stored, and when liquid chlorine is released, it quickly turns into a gas that stays close to the ground and spreads quickly.
chlorine smell
Chlorine gas can be identified by its pungent and irritating odor that resembles the smell of bleach, and the American Centers say that the strong smell may provide a suitable warning for people who are exposed to it.
its color
Chlorine gas is greenish-yellow in color. It is not flammable, but it can react explosively or form explosive compounds with other chemicals such as turpentine and ammonia. It was used during World War I as a choking (pulmonary) agent.
exposure to chlorine gas
People can be exposed to chlorine, and the risk of their exposure depends on how close they are to the place where the chlorine was released. If it is released into the air, people may be exposed to it through skin or eye contact, and they may also be exposed by breathing air that contains chlorine.
If liquid chlorine is released into the water, people may be exposed to touching or drinking the water that contains it, and if it comes into contact with food, people may be exposed to it by eating contaminated foods.
Which is heavier chlorine gas or air?
Chlorine gas is heavier than air, so it settles in low areas.
How does chlorine work?
If inhaled, chlorine turns into hydrochloric acid, which can cause burning inside the body and suffocation.
Symptoms of exposure to chlorine gas
When chlorine gas comes into contact with moist tissues such as the eyes, throat and lungs, hydrochloric acid is produced that can damage these tissues. The following signs and symptoms may appear:
- blurred vision
- Burning pain, redness and blisters on the skin if exposed to gas
- Burning sensation in the nose, throat and eyes
- Cough
- chest tightness
- breathing difficulties
These symptoms may appear immediately if high concentrations of chlorine gas are inhaled, or they may be delayed if low concentrations are inhaled.
Long-term health effects of chlorine exposure
Long-term complications may occur after inhaling high concentrations of chlorine, and people with serious health problems, such as fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), are more likely to develop complications after initial exposure.
chlorine protection
What should you do if you are exposed to chlorine? The answer is the following:
- Quick move to an area where fresh air is available.
- If the chlorine release is outdoors, stay away from the area where it was released.
- Go as high as possible, because chlorine is heavier than air and will sink in lower areas.
- If the chlorine release is in a building, get out of it.
First aid in case of exposure to chlorine gas
If you think you have been exposed to chlorine, remove your clothes, quickly wash your entire body with soap and water, and get medical attention as soon as possible.
How do you take off clothes that have been exposed to chlorine gas?
- Take off clothes immediately.
- If there is a garment that requires removing it, pull it over the head (a blouse, for example), then cut it and do not pull it over the head.
- If possible, put the clothes in a plastic bag, and then put the first plastic bag in another plastic bag. Removing and insulating the clothes in this way will help protect you and other people from any chemicals that may be on your clothes.
Washing the body after exposure to chlorine
- As soon as possible, wash your entire body with plenty of soap and water. This will help protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.
- If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes.
- If you use contact lenses, remove them before rinsing your eyes and put them in contaminated clothing bags. Do not put contact lenses in your eyes. You must dispose of them even if you do not wear disposable contact lenses.
- If you wear glasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put your glasses back on after washing them.
ingestion of chlorine
If you swallow chlorine, do not vomit or drink liquids, and seek medical attention immediately.
Is there an antidote for chlorine exposure?
There is no antidote for chlorine exposure. The treatment is to remove it from the body as quickly as possible and provide supportive medical care such as breathing treatments.
25 tons of chlorine
In turn, Reuters quoted officials as saying that the leak came after a tank containing 25 tons of chlorine gas fell during its transportation, and was scheduled to be exported to Djibouti.
A video clip published by Jordan’s official television via its Twitter account showed the fall of the tanker, which was being transported by a crane on the deck of a ship, immediately spreading yellow gas, as people fled away from it.
#urgent | Video of a gas leakage accident from a tanker in Aqaba#Jordan #aqaba #JordanTV pic.twitter.com/MZqeoUvxtG
— Jordan TV (@JrtvMedia) June 27, 2022
Al-Mamlaka channel broadcast a video clip showing the moment a white container that local media said contained 30 tons of poisonous gas fell while being carried with a crane to be placed inside a ship anchored in the port, according to Agence France-Presse.
The footage also showed that a number of trucks carrying similar tanks lined up in a long queue at the port at the moment the container fell and the explosion occurred, which led to the leakage of a yellow gaseous substance that extended into the air for tens of meters.
Al-Mamlaka channel quoted the former general manager of the Ports Operating Company, Muhammad Al-Mubaidin, as saying that “the information available to me indicates that there is a ship on berth No. 2 in the new port that wanted to load about 20 tankers of liquefied gas, and this gas has a very high chlorine content. “.
“This gas is considered one of the heavy gases, and its gaseous cloud is not easy to move like other gases, because it is a heavy gas that is concentrated in the region and is affected by the direction of the wind,” Al-Mubaidin explained.
Hamza Al-Hajj Hassan, deputy head of the Aqaba region authority, told Al-Mamlaka channel that “an iron rope carrying a container containing a toxic substance was cut off, which led to the occurrence of the toxic substance and its leakage.”
Close the windows because the material in the atmosphere is very critical
For his part, Aqaba Health Director Jamal Obeidat said that “hospitals in Aqaba are full, and they cannot receive cases,” noting that “the condition of the injured in hospitals is between medium and critical.”
Obeidat called on the residents of Aqaba to “stay in their homes and close the windows as a precaution,” noting that “the substance in the atmosphere is very critical.”
Source : Al Jazeera + agencies + French + Reuters + Sanad Agency
