Hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis after chlorine inhalation.

Chlorine gas inhalation is usually accompanied by pulmonary toxicity and hypoxemia; the associated acidemia, when present, has been attributed to lactic acidosis. This case report describes the development of hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis following accidental chlorine gas exposure. The mechanism postulated for the production of this acidosis is the absorption of hydrochloric acid following the reaction of chlorine gas with tissue water. This may be the first case of chlorine toxicity in which the mechanism of the acidosis has been determined.