This comes less than a week after a similar incident took place in the central Babil governorate, more precisely last Wednesday, following the suffocating leak of chlorine gas from a bottle at the interior of the closet water project in the governorate, according to the Iraqi Civil Defense.
Frequent accidents
These events have reopened the debate on social networks in Iraq, on the reasons for the recurrence of such incidents related to the leak of toxic chlorine gas, in water stations in various regions. The most important of these accidents was the leak which occurred last July at the Qalaat Sukkar water station, north of the city of Nasiriyah, which is the center of the southern governorate of Dhi Qar, and at that time more than 310 people suffocated.
Time bombs
Commentators have criticized the weak safety and prevention measures at these stations, and the lack of periodic maintenance or renewal of water purification systems and rusting chlorine cylinders, which lead to corrosion and damage. possible gas leaks.
These conditions turn bottles into ticking time bombs, given the deadly danger of chlorine gas when exposed to it directly and in high concentrations, explains Ayman Qaddouri, environmental expert and member of the International Union for nature conservation, to Sky News Arabia, saying:
Chlorine gas is often used in water purification plants and is compressed into cylinders. General specifications of gaseous chlorine: Its color is yellow, very close to pale green, its smell is peculiar and its density is high compared to air, reaching 3.22 grams per liter, which is two and a half times heavier than chlorine gas. ‘air. “Due to its density and heavier than air weight, it presents a great danger in the event of a leak due to its spread in areas close to the earth’s surface.” “The damage from human exposure to chlorine in its gaseous form directly is significant and can reach death.” “Successful symptoms resulting from inhalation gas exposure include lesions and scratching of the mucous membranes, as well as a large runny nose.” “After that, the lung involvement phase begins, and the most prominent manifestations are coughing, shortness of breath and scratching of the vocal cords, causing deepening of the voice, and the condition may turn into symptoms of nausea and vomiting.” “Pulmonary complications can develop within 20 hours of chlorine exposure, to the point of lung infections and heart damage that can lead to death.” “The heart damage in such cases is the result of an acute lack of oxygen, due to the saturation of the lungs with chlorine.” “The amount of damage from exposure to chlorine depends on its concentration. The higher the concentration, the greater the damage.”
Other uses
Kadouri states, “There are other internationally banned uses of chlorine gas, including its use in the manufacture of crowd dispersal (tear gas) bombs”, and “in this case, the gas affects the eye, causing irritation and burning, and the effects can reach the extent of causing inflammation of the cornea of the eye, if focused too high.
But if the exposure is done by touching the gas leaking from the pressure cylinders, it causes the part in contact with the gas to freeze and can lead to damage to the blood vessels and nerves in that part.
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