Recovering from chlorine gas poisioning - any experience / advice?

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Gixxerman

Guru
Location
Market Rasen
I did a bit of a silly thing last Thursday (4th May). I was cleaning the toilet. I put down some bleach. However, this was not doing the job as much as I would like so I added some Harpic Plus limesclale remover (which is basically hydrochloric acid). Now basic chemistry 101 (and common sense and reading the labels) should have told me what was about to happen and being quite chemistry savvy, I should have realised. However, I just didn't think. I stuck the brush down and gave it a good scrub. There was an instant reaction. My first thought was "Wow, that's reacting well". Then it hit me. Burning throat, nose, instant pain in chest. "shoot, that's chlorine gas" I thought. I immediately flushed the loo and got out the bathroom. I opened all the windows and vacated the house for a few hours. However, the damage was done. I had taken in a good lung full.

Later that night (11pm) I still had painful chest and diffiulty breathing. So I rang 111. They advised me to go to A+E as a precaution. At 12 midnight I got to A+E (6 hours after the incident). On arrival the triage nurse tested my vitals (O2 sats were 98%, BP fine). So I then had to wait 7 hours to see a doctor due to A+E being packed for some reason. Doctor listened to my chest, and performed my vitals again (O2 sats still 98%). No chest x-ray or blood tests were performed. All seemed OK. I expressed my concern about possible long-term lung damage. He seemed quite certain that it was unlikely given the low dosage / exposure time and the fact that I had not passed out at any point or vomited, plus my lungs sounded fine and no hint of edema and not coughing at all. From what he said, only about 1% suffer long term damage and that is as a result of acute exposure for long periods. This is also born out from my own research on t'internet. Case studies from swimming pool incident where victims were exposed to concentrations that resulted in coughing, unconsciousness and in some cases pulmonary edemas.

However, moderate exercise still leaves me short of breath, although the pain has all but gone now. There is still a feeling of a tight chest. I went for a test ride last Tuesday (9th) of about 8 miles. I went at it quite hard, but not at my 100% pace. I felt a little out of breath and my throat and lungs seemed a bit sore, but nothing too serious. I went to the gym on Wednesday 10th to do my usual weights. But I struggled and after I was really quite short of breath (more so than on my bike ride). Today (11th) I walked a few bus stops from my usual stop to see how I would feel. Again a bit short of breath and tightness in chest.
Despite all the assurances from the Doctor, I am really worried. My social life is based largely around sporting / physical activities, such as football, cycling, high altitude mountaineering, and any significant issue with lungs / breathing will be most upsetting as it might curtial or even prevent me from doing them.
I don't mind amitting it, I am really worried. I have a planned alpine mountaineering trip in mid to late June. I really hope that I am back to full fitness by then. I am doing a training week in Scotland later this month (in about 2 weeks hopefully), so that should give me some idea of how my fitness is so I don't waste time and money travellling to the alps and not being able to climb.
 

Dismount

Senior Member
Location
Yorkshire
Go back to the doctor and express your concerns explain you are still short of breath and ask for a x-ray. On a side note if you are feeling worried and anxious this can cause tightness in the chest. I think you need to be reassured and an x-ray will give you that reassurance.
 
There are lots of inflammatory things in the airways, ask any asthmatic. They take time to settle. You could probably get some Salbutamol prescribed by your GP or even purchase over the counter, though not sure about the latter.
 
Location
Northampton
No I haven't had any personal experience of exposure to Chlorine.
My advice/ suggestion is as follows.
Your exposure was minimal.
You didn't have any acute symptoms.
You are previously well.
Therefore the chance of you having an after effect is near zero.

Even if you do have an after effect, it is self limited. The best treatment is exercise as it will help to Keep your lungs inflated.

Chest X ray is of no value. It won't show anything. If at all what you need is respiratory function test, the basic blow in to a tube that asthmatics do every day.

You are fine, just enjoy your activities.
 

thecube

Senior Member
Location
Leiicestershire
It may take a few weeks to recover from this, it may have cause some minor lung damage depending on how much you inhaled. But, I can't see the exposure being too great since you realised immediately and then left the area. Hope it gets better soon, but see the gp if you are still concerned. I've had a lung full in the past too, not nice but no lasting damage.
 

alicat

Legendary Member
Location
Staffs
Worrying is normal. That much I know. Hope it all works out okay. ^_^
 

Welsh wheels

Lycra king
Location
South Wales
Sorry to hear that happened to you. Maybe ask for an inhaler, that might relieve some of the symptoms. It's possible that the gas could have caused some asthma-like symptoms that will settle down after a while.
 
OP
OP
Gixxerman

Gixxerman

Guru
Location
Market Rasen
Sorry to hear that happened to you. Maybe ask for an inhaler, that might relieve some of the symptoms. It's possible that the gas could have caused some asthma-like symptoms that will settle down after a while.
What happens is the Chlorine reacts with water and makes hydrochloric acid. So all the wet / damp bits in the breathing aparatus of the body get subject to acid burns (so throat, mucus membranes, eyes, trachea, internals of the lungs). My eyes were fine as the dosage was low. Burning of the inside of the lungs is the scary part, as this can lead to scarring and permanent decrease in lung function (less surface area for oxygen transfer). from what I can gather, there is nothing they can do for this as the damage is done almost immediately. The lungs will repair themselves, but to what extent is the worry for me.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
What happens is the Chlorine reacts with water and makes hydrochloric acid. So all the wet / damp bits in the breathing aparatus of the body get subject to acid burns (so throat, mucus membranes, eyes, trachea, internals of the lungs). My eyes were fine as the dosage was low. Burning of the inside of the lungs is the scary part, as this can lead to scarring and permanent decrease in lung function (less surface area for oxygen transfer). from what I can gather, there is nothing they can do for this as the damage is done almost immediately. The lungs will repair themselves, but to what extent is the worry for me.
Go speak with a lung specialist, s/he is by far the best placed to tell you...while a bunch of cyclists on the Internet, however knowledgeable, probably are not :smile:

You presumably need your lungs for a little while longer, so it's probably best not to take any uneducated risks :smile:
 

Welsh wheels

Lycra king
Location
South Wales
What happens is the Chlorine reacts with water and makes hydrochloric acid. So all the wet / damp bits in the breathing aparatus of the body get subject to acid burns (so throat, mucus membranes, eyes, trachea, internals of the lungs). My eyes were fine as the dosage was low. Burning of the inside of the lungs is the scary part, as this can lead to scarring and permanent decrease in lung function (less surface area for oxygen transfer). from what I can gather, there is nothing they can do for this as the damage is done almost immediately. The lungs will repair themselves, but to what extent is the worry for me.
I have asthma and when it flares up, although the symptoms aren't caused by asthma for you, I get similar symptoms to ones you have described. I sympathise and I understand how debilitating and distressing they can be, especially when they affect cycling and other exercise. My advice would be to make an appointment with your GP and discuss all your concerns with them. And try to relax in the meantime, speaking from experience this helps a lot!
 

Welsh wheels

Lycra king
Location
South Wales
Go speak with a lung specialist, s/he is by far the best placed to tell you...while a bunch of cyclists on the Internet, however knowledgeable, probably are not :smile:

You presumably need your lungs for a little while longer, so it's probably best not to take any uneducated risks :smile:
This, most of us aren't medical professionals and those who are can't give medical advice privately anyway.
 
Initial symptoms of exposure to chlorine gas include eye, nose and throat irritation, sneezing and restlessness. At higher levels, you may find it difficult to breathe, cough violently, choke and become dizzy and nauseous. Chronic repeated exposure to low levels can cause dermatitis, eroded tooth enamel and severe chest pain. Chlorine gas can definitely kill you -- that's why it was used as a chemical weapon during the First World War.

PS, peeing into a bowl recently cleaned with bleach does much the same :ohmy:
 
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