Chlorine

Applications
Production of industrial and consumer products (Organic chemistry demands much from chlorine, since it often brings many desired properties in an organic compound) Purification and disinfection (Chlorine treatment of water has saved countless of lives, preventing epidemics of typhoid fever and cholera) Other uses

HEALTH
Chlorine is a respiratory irritant. The gas irritates the mucus membranes and the liquid burns the skin. In water, THMs (chlorine comp) are cancer causing compounds. THMs are also linked to kidney, liver, and nervous system damage as well as birth defects. This chemical, when used in small doses, has no side effects; in large doses, however, it is fatal. Unknown

DEBATE QUESTION: Should the use of chlorine for the manufacture of chlorine containing compounds be banned?
Option # 1: Complete ban on use of all chlorine containing compounds. Option # 2: Limited ban only on potentially harmful classes of compounds. For example ban all organochlorine pesticides or ban all chlorine containing plastics. Option # 3: No ban, or extremely limited ban on compounds proven to cause harm. For example ban only those chlorine containing compounds which have been proven to harm the environment or toxic to humans and animals i.e. DDT, PCB's For this issue debate, you may self select the position that you would like to promote.

DDT

Bisphenol-A

 Are you more likely to get sick or die if chlorine is not used in drinking water? Is it right to continue making chlorine chemicals already known to cause adverse health effects? Should all uses of chlorine be banned when only a few chemicals cause problems?