Uses and Environmental Effects of Chloroform

Introduction

Chloroform is a colourless, volatile, liquid derivative of methane with an ether-like odour. The formula of chloroform is CHCl3. It is slightly soluble in water. Hence, it sinks in water. Chloroform is non-flammable in most conditions, but it tends to burn under extreme conditions. It is used as a solvent to synthesise  other chemicals. It is also used as a fumigant. 

As a by-product of water chlorination, it may be present in small amounts in chlorinated water.

Acute chloroform toxicity can cause liver dysfunctional, cardiac arrhythmia, nausea and central nervous system dysfunction. 

Earlier, chloroform was used as an inhaled anaesthetic during the surgery, but it isn’t used that way now. Other names for chloroform are Trichloromethane and Methyl trichloride.

Uses of Chloroform 

There are various uses of chloroform in the chemical and domestic industries. Some of these uses are described as follows:

• The primary use in the production of refrigerants (e.g. chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-22, fluorocarbon-22) which are used in refrigerators as the coolant. It is also used in producing plastic, especially vinyl chloride. 

• The CHCl3 commonly known as chloroform, is utilised as a solvent to extract fats, greases, wax, oils, rubbers, resins, etc. 

• The chloroform is used as an industrial solvent as well as It is used to purify and extract alkaloids, vitamins, and antibiotics. 

• Chloroform is used in the building, paper and board industries, and in pesticide and film production, you can also use chloroform as a dry cleaning agent to eradicate spots from your clothes or fabric. 

• Chloroform is also utilised to lower the temperature of other chemicals. 

How Does Chloroform Affect the Environment? 

Chloroform evaporates very quickly when exposed to thin air. It also dissolves very quickly in water but does not stick to the soil very well. Chloroform lasts very long in the air and groundwater. Most chloroform in the air breaks down, but this process is slow. Its breakdown products in the atmosphere include phosgene, which is more dangerous than chloroform, and hydrogen chloride. 

How Does One Get Exposed to Chloroform? 

Exposure to Small quantities of chloroform can be taken by inhaling the air as well. The amount of chloroform expected to be in air ranges from 0.02 to 0.05 parts of chloroform per billion parts (ppb) of air and from 2 to 44 ppb in drinking water. However, in some places, the concentration of chloroform may be higher than 44 ppb.  

How Does Chloroform Affect One’s Health? 

In humans, chloroform (CHCl3) affects the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys. Breathing about 900 parts of chloroform in a million parts of air for a short time can cause fatigue, dizziness and headache. If a person breathes air, eats food, or drinks water containing elevated levels of chloroform over a long period, it may damage their liver and kidneys. Large amounts of chloroform can cause sores when it touches the skin.    

Conclusion 

The chloroform is CHCl3 and has a pleasant, etheric, non-irritating odour. Its molecular weight is 119.37, and it is also called trichloromethane, methane, trichloro-form, etc. Chloroform was used as an anaesthetic earlier, but it has now been replaced. It was also used in the antibiotic penicillin. Besides, it is used as a solvent in biochemistry and pharmacology. It can be absorbed through the lungs.