Chlorine gas sales to continue

Press, 22 July 1986, Page 8

Chlorine gas sales to continue

PA Wellington The sale of chlorine gas in Britain was stopped last year for safety reasons, said 1.C.1.’s corporate relations manager, Mr Chris Cole, yesterday. In Wellington last week 27 people, mostly children, were treated at Wellington Hospital after chlorine gas leaked into the swimming pool at the Boys and Girls’ Institute complex in Tasman Street

Mr Cole said there were no plans to withdraw chlorine gas in New Zealand.

In 1976 1.C.1. in Britain proposed to gradually withdraw chlorine gas from sale because of the risk of leakage. Sodium hypochlorite, a stronger form of household bleach, was offered as the alternative.

This was endorsed by the Department 6f the

Environment in 1978 and British chlorine sdles finally stopped last year. Mr Cole said 1.C.1. in New Zealand did not manufacture chlorine, but bought it through N.Z. Forest Products, which produces both chlorine and sodium hypochlorite. “We supply to a demand,” he said. “Others provide the systems or chlorinators used. for it Others come and put the equipment in.

“We carry out regular safety seminars for all those who handle chlorine, including pool operators. We recognise the danger of chlorine and hence we run the seminars.”

The D.S.I.R.’s Chemistry Division water specialist, Dr Craig Stevenson, said the effect of the two types of pool sterilisers were almost identical.

“I understand the main reason for moving away from chlorine gas in Britain was associated with the danger of shipping chlorine gas around the country and the possibility of extreme road hazards and that sort of thing,” he said.

“There is also a hazard if there is a serious leak around swimming pools.

“Chlorine is under some pressure. The chlorine that is in the yellow cylinders is a liquid but that turns into a gas around room temperature. Therefore there is a possibility for a leak outside.” He said the main danger with sodium hypochlorite was that it was highly caustic and corrosive solution.

“Sodium hypochlorite is aasically a stronger solution of household bleach put in pools under a

pumping system.” If it splashed onto a person, especially if it hit the eyes, it could do serious damage. Also, if it came into contact with organic material such as cloth or paper and was allowed to dry it could start a fire.

The executive director in charge of operations at NZ Forest Products, Mr Laurie McDowall, said he had no idea of the dangers of either of the products. That was up to health authorities to determine.

The price of chlorine varied according to the volume sold but ranged from about $llO a tonne to $750 a tonne. Sodium hypochlorite was sold for about $4OO a tonne.

Mr Harry Richards’ the chief inspector of dangerous goods for the Labour Department which

handles chlorine sales, said there was no talk of stopping chlorine sales. “It is not for me to say swimming pools can’t use chlorine any more,” he said.

“There has never been any question of chlorine being banned in New Zealand.”

There had been some bad accidents with sodium hypochlorite because it was flammable. * The Fire Service’s national safety director, Mr Kevin Henderson, said chlorine in a gas state was a dangerous chemical. “But it is only one of a range of substances that we come up against in the community.” Mr Henderson said sodium hypochlorite also posed fire dangers.

“All chemicals need repect and they should be used with the manufacturers’ warning.”