The Effects Of Chlorine On The Environment

Chlorine can enter into the environment in its natural gaseous state or as a compound with other elements or chemicals, and it can negatively impact the environment, humans and other organisms. Chlorine is soluble, meaning it can dissolve in water and can be carried away in water systems rapidly. It is also reactive, which means it can combine with chemicals in water, or any other substance, and produce chlorinated organic chemicals that are toxic for organisms. In humans, chlorine gas can affect lungs, eyes and skin, as well as other problems. DDT, a chlorinated organic compound caused population levels in several bird species to plummet in the 1950s and led to Rachel Carson’s seminal work “Silent Spring.” Dioxins can change hormone levels