How does bleach kill you

Bleach is poison. Drinking it is never a good idea. A new report indicates an uptick in poisoning that's clearly associated with the spread and mounting worry of COVID Bleach can harm your lungs and absorb into your skin. If you come into contact with bleach on your skin or in your eyes, be aware of how to safely…. Discover symptoms, risk factors, tips to prevent contracting and transmitting it, and more.

A group of researchers discovered that when bleach fumes mix with a citrus compound found in many household cleaners, it can create potentially…. Find information about chemical burns and how to prevent them. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of chemical burns. Most incidents of chlorine poisoning result from ingesting household cleaners. Learn about symptoms and treatments.

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Discover why gasoline exposure can be dangerous for your health. Learn about gasoline poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning, when to seek help, and…. If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes.

If you wear contacts, remove them before rinsing your eyes, and place them in the bags with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes. You should dispose of them even if you do not wear disposable contacts. If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water. You can put the eyeglasses back on after you wash them. If you have swallowed ingested chlorine, do not induce vomiting or drink fluids. Seek medical attention right away.

Consider dialing and explaining what has happened. How chlorine exposure is treated No antidote exists for chlorine exposure. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address.

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Cancel Continue. While even a small amount of bleach in your bathwater could dry out or irritate your skin, using too much could cause serious burns or respiratory distress. The only people bleach baths are recommended for are patients with severe eczema, and even in this specific use case they remain contentious.

Bacterial infections can worsen the severely itchy skin caused by atopic dermatitis, so killing microbial pathogens may provide some relief. You can also end up burning yourself if you inadvertently add things other than bleach to the bathwater and cause a chemical reaction.

Some physicians argue that even people with skin infections or serious eczema should leave cleaners out of their soaks. At least one study, which reviewed data from several previous papers, found that bleach baths have no more benefit than soaks in plain water —and can actually trigger asthma attacks with their fumes.

One minute. Household bleach has many uses. It's good for removing stains and disinfecting surfaces. Adding bleach to water is an effective way to make it safe to use as drinking water. However, there's a reason there is a poison symbol on bleach containers and a warning to keep them away from children and pets.

Drinking undiluted bleach can kill you. Ordinary household bleach sold in gallon jugs e. Some formulations of bleach are sold containing a lower concentration of sodium hypochlorite. Additionally, there are other types of bleaching agents.

Bleach has a shelf life , so the exact amount of sodium hypochlorite depends largely on how old the product is and whether it has been opened and sealed properly.

Because bleach is so reactive, it undergoes a chemical reaction with air, so the concentration of sodium hypochlorite goes down over time. Sodium hypochlorite removes stains and disinfects because it is an oxidizing agent. If you inhale the vapors or ingest bleach, it oxidizes your tissues.

Because it is corrosive , touching bleach can cause chemical burns on your hands unless you wash it off immediately. If you drink bleach, it oxidizes or burns tissues in your mouth, esophagus, and stomach. It can also cause chest pain, lowered blood pressure, delirium, coma, and potentially death. If you suspect someone has ingested bleach, contact Poison Control immediately. One possible effect from drinking bleach is vomiting, but it is not advisable to induce vomiting because this can cause additional irritation and damage to tissue and may put the person at risk of aspirating bleach into the lungs.

Note that highly diluted bleach can be another matter entirely. It is common practice to add a small amount of bleach to water to make it potable.