Chlorine Disorders

Chlorine is a highly reactive element that is seldom found in its natural state. It comprises about 2 per cent of the earth's surface material, mostly in the form of sodium chloride dissolved in seawater.

Its reactivity makes it valuable as a disinfectant, and it has been widely used to de-contaminate drinking water and swimming pools. Chlorinated water consequently has an unpleasant taste and a strong aroma that makes it unpalatable to some that is detectable at low concentrations.

Chlorine reacts with organic compounds in water to produce trihalomethanes, which are carcinogens which encourages the growth of free radicals. These chemicals, also known as organ chlorides, do not degrade very well and are generally stored in the fatty tissues of the body.

Chlorination is very successful in killing waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and hepatitis. Chloramines, although a more stable compound, contains chlorine and ammonia and is also used to control bacteria and harmful germs in water systems and chemically disinfect public water systems.

Chlorine oxidizes lipid (fatty) contaminants in the water. It thus creates free radicals 2 (highly reactive sub-atomic particles lacking an electron) and ox sterols (formed when lipid molecules combine with oxygen molecules).

The compound hypochlorite, created when chlorine mixes with water, generates excess free radicals; these oxidize EFAs. The immune system employs free radicals to kill cells that its cellular immune mechanism can’t handle. A second mechanism using free radicals initiates programmed cell death known as apoptosis. And moderate quantities of oxysterols, like cholesterol itself, serve a protective function.

During the bathing process, the chlorine evaporates out of the water and is inhaled. This toxic gas can also spread through the house and be inhaled by others. Some reports claim that as much chlorine enters the body by inhaling steamy chlorinated shower vapours or through the open pores of the skin as that which enters the body by drinking chlorinated water during the entire day. Greater toxin absorption occurs through the skin than through breathing.

Highly reactive chlorine is one of the industrial waste products profitably disposed of and has been used as a weapon also. Chlorine is a bleaching agent and the concentrations in water used for drinking and swimming pools are seldom high enough to produce respiratory discomfort.

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