Chlorine
CHLORIDE is an essential element found mainly in the extracellular fluids of the body and is an integral part of the digestive juice hydrochloric acid. The chloride ion is essential in maintaining osmotic pressure and acid-base balance and is known to assist the liver to function, clean the body of waste, and keep muscles limber. Chloride ions readily pass in and out of red blood cells, which is important in maintaining blood pH.
The body contains about 100 grams of chloride, or about 0.15% of the total weight of an average adult. Most of this amount is combined with sodium or potassium. Chloride is readily absorbed and amply supplied from such dietary products as table salt, animal products, and processed foods. Chloride deficiencies often develop from prolonged or severe vomiting or diarrhea. Other circumstances that contribute to a loss are pumping the stomach, use of diuretics, or strict no-salt diets. The loss of chloride in the body usually parallels that of sodium and potassium and is often referred to as a loss of electrolytes. A severe deficiency results in alkalosis, which is an excess of alkali in the blood, characterized by slow and shallow breathing, listlessness, muscle cramps, lack of appetite, and occasionally, convulsions. Chloride and chlorine are often used interchangeably.
Chlorine is best known as a greenish-yellow toxic gas and a compound that is added to drinking water and swimming pools. It is not found in nature as an individual element, but its salts are widespread. In human tissues, it is known as the chloride ion. It is the "free" form that is used as a disinfecting, bleaching, and purifying agent.
Chlorine was first called 'oxymuriatic acid' in the late 1700's by a French chemist because he thought that all acids contained oxygen. By 1810, this substance was named 'chloros' from the Greek word meaning greenish-yellow. Chlorine is commonly put into various forms of water, mainly to kill any bacteria present, but it is not effective against the bacterium cryptosporidium. Boiling the water for safe drinking tends to concentrate any lead that may be present. Some by-products of chlorine are known to be carcinogenic. The EPA is considering steps to reduce the levels of chlorine added to drinking water, but, naturally, is facing opposition from industry groups. There is no RDA but an AVERAGE intake of table salt provides plenty.
Other names include: chlorin, Cl, Cl-, element 17.
Deficiency symptoms include: salt cravings, digestive deterioration, thinning hair, deterioration of teeth, muscle cramps, granulation of eyelids, hayfever, water eyes, runny nose, blistering skin, eczema, warts.
Toxicity symptoms include: decreased cancer resistance, increased blood pressure, anemia, weak pulse, and difficulty breathing.
