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Chloroform and Environment

In: Science

Submitted By sofiallin
Words 286
Pages 2
Chloroform in Our Environment
Chlorine is often added to drinking water and swimming pool water to kill bacteria and other microbes. Chloroform and other disinfection by-products form when the chlorine reacts with organic molecules in the water. In swimming pools, these organic molecules can come from shed skin cells, sweat, urine, cosmetics, sunscreens, leaves and soil, for example. Once they are formed, chloroform and other disinfection by-products are absorbed though the skin, or enter the body if a person swallows water or breathes vapor coming from the water.
In homes, scientists have found that chlorinated water produces vapor containing chloroform, especially if the water is hot. The hotter the water, the higher the chloroform concentration in the air. Hot shower or bath water, hot cooking water and hot laundry or dish washing water can all raise the chloroform level. Chlorine used to clean toilets or to bleach clothes can also produce chloroform.
Certain industries release chloroform into the atmosphere. They use chloroform as a reactant in chemical reactions and as a solvent – a chemical that dissolves other substances. Chloroform is used in some countries to produce a refrigerant known as R-22. The use of R-22 is gradually decreasing, however, since it causes ozone depletion in the atmosphere. Chloroform is also released into the air from pulp and paper mills and from landfills and hazardous waste sites.
Chloroform enters our bodies when we drink chlorinated water and eat food containing chloroform. Some foods contain chloroform because chlorinated tap water was used to produce them.
In the past, chloroform was added to some cough medicines, but in 1976 the United States banned this use. However, cough syrups in some countries still contain

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