Which statement about chlorine pulmonary agent is true?

• A. Low lethality
• B. High lethality
• C. Readily available
• D. No antidote

Answer: (A)

Chlorine gas acts as a pulmonary irritant whose toxicity depends on dose and exposure time. It damages the airways and can cause coughing, bronchospasm, and edema; most people exposed to typical concentrations recover with prompt decontamination and supportive care. Because deaths are more likely only with high concentrations or in those with preexisting lung disease, chlorine’s lethality is relatively low compared with many other chemical agents. Although there isn’t a specific antidote, the overall risk of death remains low in many exposure scenarios, which makes the statement describing low lethality the best choice.