Although widely used as a household cleaner, chlorine bleach is hazardous in many ways. Janitorial Services avoid bleach for cleaning because there are many safe alternatives. Some of the first effects of breathing the fumes are throat and lung irritation, problems that are much more dangerous in persons with heart conditions, respiratory issues, or who are predisposed to breathing problems. Physical contact can cause damage to skin, eyes, and membranes. Long term exposure may lead to chronic conditions, while mixing chlorine bleach with any other cleaning product could have devastating or lethal results. If you find you have a consistent physical reaction to bleach, you should discontinue using it immediately and contact a physician.
Bleach is a strong corrosive material. It will irritate the eyes, skin and the respiratory tract from just inhaling the gasses. The dangers of bleach extend to mixing bleach with other cleaners. When this happens a poisonous gas is released that can cause bloody noses, neurological disorders, headaches and even death.
And household bleach, without having been mixed with other products, can cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested.
Chlorine is also a common additive to cleaners in the home such as dishwashing detergent. Chlorine was the first agent of chemical warfare in WWI. Since that time it has been added to our water supply and other products used in the home. The danger of chlorine inhalation increases in the shower as the heat aerosolizes the chlorine chemical producing tiny droplets we breathe in.
How can you protect yourself and your family? First – educate yourself. Find safer alternatives to the corrosive materials that now reside under your sink. You’d be surprised how much cleaning and laundry you can do with baking soda, vinegar, lemon and borax.
Next, minimize the use of harsh chemicals in the home and around the children. Clean up spills immediately so you aren’t tempted to pull out the bleach to clean the spots.
Always store cleaning material in their original containers and keep them out of reach of children. Lock the kitchen cabinets where the dish detergents and cleaners are kept. Follow the labeled directions and use the minimal amount of the product for the job.
Google+