My first LinkedIn post is dedicated to chlorine.:)
My relationship with chlorine began in childhood, likely because my grandmother loved to clean everything with bleach.🤢 During my university years, my professors taught me that chlorine is hazardous, and sodium hypochlorite is a much safer alternative. As I progressed in my career, I applied sodium hypochlorite or other alternative disinfection methods in my projects.
Growing up in St. Petersburg also influenced my view, as it was the first city to eliminate chlorine from its water treatment processes. The director of the city's water utility, who was also one of my lecturers, played a significant role in this transformation.
Today, I want to share a bit of history about how chlorine spread across Europe and America, eventually winning the hearts of many despite its risks.
The history of chlorine’s use began with its discovery by Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1774. It was the French chemist Claude Louis Berthollet who first recognized its potential for industrial use, applying chlorine in the bleaching of textiles and paper in the late 18th century.
In the 19th century, the disinfecting properties of chlorine came to light. In 1846, doctors in Vienna, led by Ignaz Semmelweis, began using "chlorine water" to disinfect hands in medical settings. By the early 20th century, the spread of diseases like cholera had become a critical issue. In response, cities began adopting chlorine as a means to disinfect drinking water supplies. Jersey City, New Jersey, was the first to implement this practice on a large scale in 1908, with New York City following soon after.
In Russia, chlorine was first used in my beloved city, St. Petersburg, in the early 20th century. Chlorination quickly became the simplest and most cost-effective method of protecting public health, leading to its widespread adoption across the globe.
Proven Leader and Collaborator in Public Policy and Strategic Regulatory Affairs
4moGloria Post - congrats! You are one of a kind!