An EasyPill To Swallow (NAPSA)—It may comeas a surprise to many Americans but one of the most important ingredients in modern medicine is something you probably think about morefor cleaning than curing: chlorine. Chlorine is a necessary compo- nent of some of the most widely used and effective medicines available today. Medicines made using chlorine chemistry include many commonly prescribed pain relievers, decongestants and antihistamines, antidepressants and antibiotics. In fact, 85 percent of all pharmaceuticals on the market are manufactured using chlorine chemistry. These drugs help patients battling cancer, diabetes, heart disease, AIDS, leukemia, meningitis, pneumonia, and a variety of other ailments. Chlorine chemistry is even helping protect public health from terrorist attacks, as an essential element of such life-saving drugs as Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and Doxycycline—each of which has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to treat people who have been exposed to anthrax. @ Doctors and nurses rely on chlorine chemistry to help them save lives. In the operating room, chlorine facilitates the most advanced surgeries. It is a vital component of IV and blood bags, prosthetics, oxygen tents, diagnostic instruments, sterile tubing and packaging, and coolers used for organ transplants. American hospitals provide us with an unprecedented level of medical care, the envy of much of the world. Medical professionals continually seek out new treatments and technologies to improve upon this system. Chlorine is an essential element of the research that advances our medical capabilities. Doctors have used chlorinated compounds to develop potent new drug therapies for many illnesses and diseases, including hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease. Today, chlorine chemistry can be considered the cornerstone of modern medicine. To learn more about the invaluable contribution of chlorine to modern medicine, visit the Chlorine Chemistry Council’s Web site at www.c3.org.
