Higher exposures can lead to severe lung damage, such as toxic pneumonitis or pulmonary edema, with concentrations around 400 ppm and beyond potentially fatal.
Common exposure sources include occupational settings, accidental chemical mixing, and industrial accidents.
Most individuals with mild exposure recover within a few days, though some may develop long-term respiratory issues.
The signs of acute chlorine gas poisoning are primarily respiratory, and include difficulty breathing and cough; listening to the lungs will generally reveal crackles.
[3] There is no antidote for chlorine poisoning; management is supportive after evacuating people from the site of exposure and flushing exposed tissues.
Most people with mild to moderate exposure generally recover fully in three to five days, but some develop chronic problems such as reactive airway disease.
Smoking or pre-existing lung conditions like asthma appear to increase the risk of long term complications.