The chlor-alkali sector underpins 55% of the European chemical industry turnover (2003: 580,000 million EUR).
About two-thirds of European chlorine production is used in engineering materials: polymers, resins and elastomers. The largest single use (35%) continues to be PVC plastic for construction, automotive, electronic and electrical industries.
Many chemicals, plastics and medicines use chlorine during the manufacturing process, although the end product is chlorine-free. Sinnce the late 1970s there has been a sharp increase in use of the chlorine-free plastics polyurethane and polycarbonate.
The alkali caustic soda is an important co-product of chlorine manufacture. It is used in various industries (eg metallurgy, aluminium, glass, soap, detergents and textiles).
Economics
More than 20 million tonnes of chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen are produced each year at 82 plants across Europe. The sector directly employs about 39,000 people in 20 countries.
Almost 2,000,000 jobs in Europe are related to chlorine.
Environment
Data on emissions of 22 chlorinated substances have been collected since 1985. Between 1985 and 2004 there has been a 93% reduction in the total tonnage released to air and 99% in that released to water. In 2004 pentachlorobenzene was added to the list of chemicals being monitored. In Western Europe manufacturing mercury emissions per tonne of chlorine have been reduced by 96% since 1977. This is primarily due to chlor-alkali companies' continued efforts to reduce mercury emissions to water and air, and more recently as a result of companies gradually converting to the more environmentally-sound membrane technology.
The chlor-alkali industry is not a significant source of emissions of dioxins and furans. These are unwanted by-products of natural and industrial processes, usually involving combustion. Use of cleaner fuels and improved waste incineration technology has helped to drastically reduce levels in the environment.
More than 90% of chlorine produced in Europe is used or converted at the same site. Whenever possible, plants are placed together with other processing facilities at the same location.
Health
More than 90% of European drinking water is made safe with the help of chlorine, which disinfects right up to the tap. Chlorine plays a key role in controlling diseases such as typhoid, cholera and diarrhoea - particularly in lesser-developed regions of the world. There is still a great need for chlorinated drinking water as globally up to 2,000,000 children continue to die each year of diarrhoea caused by waterborne microbes.
PVC plastic made with chlorine is used in 25% of medical devices. These include blood bags, sterile tubing, heart catheters and prosthetics.
Eighty-five percent of medicines, including many life-saving drugs, are synthesised using chlorine chemistry.
Chlorine is used in household bleach, disinfectants and antiseptics to combat a wide range of microbes in homes, hospitals, swimming pools, restaurants and other public places.
Public safety
Chlorine decontaminates public water supplies damaged by natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and earthquakes.
Protective equipment used by the police, fire and ambulance services is made with materials dependent on chlorine. Examples: bullet-resistant vests, face shields and helmets.
Communications equipment and components used by emergency services are also made with chlorine-based materials. Examples: radios, mobile telephones and microprocessors.
Quality of life
Chlorine chemistry is used in home construction for PVC window frames and pipes, concrete, insulation, adhesives, paints and carpets.
Consumer products that depend on chlorine chemistry include toiletries and cosmetics, contact lenses, computers, televisions and compact discs.
About 96% of crop protection chemicals used to boost yields and quality are based on chlorine chemistry.
Many leisure activities rely on equipment made using chlorine: soccer balls, tents, waterproof clothing, skateboards, tennis rackets and skis.
Automotive components using chlorine include upholstery, bumpers and mats, dashboards, fan and alternator belts, hoses, gaskets and seals.
Chlorine in nature
Chlorine is the 10th most abundant of the 15 elements which make up 99.5% of the human body. Chlorinated compounds are found in our blood, skin and teeth, and as hydrochloric acid in our digestive system.
Chlorine is one of the most common elements in nature. More than 2,000 naturally-occurring chlorine compounds have been identified.
Key natural sources of organochlorines are the oceans, forest fires, volcanoes and living organisms including bacteria, fungi, plants and marine organisms.
The sea is the source of life. Salt - a compound of sodium and chlorine - makes up 2.9% of the world's oceans. Salt brine is the main raw material to produce chlorine, but less than a third of salt production stems from the sea. Most comes from rock salt mines.
