Chlorine is a chemical often found in cleaning products like bleach and is used to disinfect swimming pools. Along with other cleaning ingredients, its main job is to kill germs and keep things sanitay.
However, being exposed to concentrated chlorine—whether by swallowing, touching, or breathing it in—can be harmful. It may cause chemical burns, blisters on the skin, eye damage, or trouble breathing. If you or someone else shows signs of chlorine poisoning, getting emergency medical help right away is crucial.
How Chlorine Poisoning Happens
Chlorine is usually mixed with water and other chemicals to kill germs in pools. In household or industrial cleaners, it helps destroy germs and sanitize organic debris or light residues.
Moderate Exposure
When you swim in a pool, the chlorine is diluted, so it shouldn’t harm your skin or eyes. You might get a mild rash that goes away with lotion, or you could breathe in very small amounts of chlorine in the air. Even swallowing a little pool water isn’t usually dangerous.
You might also touch or inhale chlorine when using cleaning products or entering a room that’s been cleaned with them.
High Exposure
Being around large amounts of concentrated chlorine—whether alone or mixed with other chemicals—can be risky. Poisoning can happen from swallowing cleaners, getting it on your skin or in your eyes, or breathing it in a closed space.
Long-Term Exposure
People who regularly work with cleaning products, around pools, in water treatment plants, or certain industries may have ongoing low-level exposure. This can lead to tooth corrosion or reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS), a type of asthma triggered by chemical irritants.
Symptoms to Watch For
If you suspect harmful chlorine exposure, watch for symptoms, which may start right away or take a few hours to appear and then worsen quickly.
- Skin: Contact with undiluted chlorine (like bleach) can cause burning, redness, itching, pain, or blisters.
- Eyes: Exposure can lead to redness, irritation, and a burning sensation on the eyes and eyelids.
- Breathing: Inhaling chlorine (from pools, spills, or industrial settings) may cause coughing or sneezing. Severe cases can lead to trouble breathing, wheezing, or hypoxia (low oxygen). Signs of hypoxia include bluish, gray, or pale skin—especially on lips and nail beds (may appear different in darker skin tones).
- Swallowing: Drinking chlorine can burn your throat, esophagus, and digestive tract, disrupting blood mineral levels and affecting the heart and kidneys. Severe cases need immediate medical care and can be life-threatening.
What to Do in an Emergency
If you suspect chlorine poisoning, call Poison Control at 800-222-1222 or 911.
Immediate Steps:
- Get away from the source—move outside or to a different area.
- Depending on exposure type:
- Swallowed chlorine? Don’t induce vomiting—call Poison Control. Vomiting can cause more burns.
- Chlorine in eyes? Rinse with water for 10–15 minutes.
- Chlorine on skin? Wash the area with mild soap and water.
- Inhaled chlorine? Leave the area immediately.
- Remove contaminated clothing once the chlorine is washed off.
Medical Treatment
Treatment focuses on managing symptoms:
- Breathing issues? You may need oxygen or, in severe cases, a ventilator.
- Skin burns? You’ll get infection-preventing medication and protective bandages. Severe burns might require skin grafts.
- Eye burns? You may need protective coverings while healing.
- Swallowed chlorine? You might receive IV fluids with electrolytes.
Who’s at Risk?
Anyone can get chlorine poisoning, but kids are more vulnerable due to their smaller size. Watch for symptoms after swimming.
Prevention Tips:
- Shower after swimming.
- Wear goggles to protect your eyes.
- Use a mask when cleaning with chlorine products.
- Ensure good ventilation in work areas with chemicals.
Safer Cleaning Alternatives
Other cleaners (like vinegar, baking soda, or mild soap) can work for basic cleaning—though they don’t disinfect. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other chemicals—it creates dangerous fumes.
Summary
Chlorine is great for killing germs, but too much exposure can be harmful. If poisoning happens, act fast—call for help, avoid further exposure, and follow first-aid steps. Medical care can help with recovery.