I found out the other day thet the water works near me has over 1000Kg of chlorine stored there and its in a plase surrounded by houses.
Surely that cant be safe can it?
2007-10-30 03:32:15 · 5 answers · asked by lucylonglegs 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Hi
Most water treatment plants use chlorine gas.
It is stored as a liquefied gas under pressure in 'ISO' tanks which look like big drums. They are colour coded yellow.
Chlorine is a toxic gas but there are very good safety precautions in place when it is stored and used.
In the UK, the chlorine tank is stored in a room just for that purpose with efficient extraction and air scrubbing plant in case there is a leak.
I know 1000Kg sounds like a lot - 1 ton - but it's not much as far as the chemical industry is concerned, and if there was an awful accident, you would probably just be told to stay indoors with your doors and windows closed and it would very quickly disperse.
Water treatment plants also use sulphur dioxide gas and ammonia gas, two other poisonous gasses.
I would not worry.
2007-10-30 03:56:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chlorine gas is HIGHLY toxic and can kill humans quite effectively.
However I seriously doubt anyone, especially an organization will store a ton of chlorine gas, near human habitation.
In most cases, the chlorine because it is so toxic, corrosive is not stored in the gas form, but often in an often harmless state such as bealching powder, or hypochlorite salts.
In such cases, there is low chance of toxicity due to chlorine gas, unless chlorine gas is relased from these salts-by contamination from water for example.
2007-10-30 10:39:18 · answer #2 · answered by veryytterium 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chlorine is used to kill bacteria in the water you drink. If mixed with drinking water at safe levels it is harmless. The side effects of not using chlorine include dysentery, parasites and death.
2007-10-30 10:40:00 · answer #3 · answered by Peter D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the chlorine you are talking about. If it is chlorine gas, it is highly dangerous. But if you are talking about the solid or liquid ones, they are only dangerous in very high amounts.
2007-10-30 10:55:40 · answer #4 · answered by asphinx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chlorine is in every swimming pool you've ever been in. Unless you ingest it in large quantities, it's safe.
2007-10-30 10:40:27 · answer #5 · answered by timitwa 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋