Does chlorine affect plants?

Chlorine is a micronutrient that is essential to plant growth. If a plant accumulates too much chlorine in its leaf tissue the leaves become scorched or burnt in appearance.

Scorched leaves look brown or have dead tissue on the tips, margins or between the veins. Leaves may appear bleached instead of scorched and may be smaller than normal. Leaves may also appear yellow and fall off early. Air pollution can cause chloride toxicity from chlorine gas. Chlorine toxicity can also result from excess chloride in the soil. Excess chloride in the soil can be the result of runoff from a swimming pool, irrigation water or excess soil salts, also known as sodium chloride.