Chlorinated compounds occur naturally in humans and are found in blood, skin and teeth. Even white blood cells need chlorine to enable them to fight off infections. In nature, chlorine is even more plentiful than carbon. Almost every product made today benefits from chlorine chemistry. Chlorine contributes to advances in areas as diverse as disinfection, medicine, public safety and enhancing everyday life.
Chlorine saves lives.
Chlorination and disinfection of the water supplies are the public health success stories of the century. Chlorine acts as a powerful disinfection agent when used either on its own or as sodium hypochlorite. When added to water in minute quantities, it quickly kills bacteria and other microbes. In addition to purifying water, chlorine helps remove tastes and odours, controls the growth of slime and algae in mains pipes and storage tanks, and helps to remove unwanted nitrogen compounds from water. By 1960, this figure had fallen to fewer than 20.