Brought to you by http://www.SmartLivingNews.com"A peculiar accident reported by
National Safety Council involved two housewives in separate cases. Both were using an ordinary toilet bowl cleaner. Not satisfied with way it was removing stain, each one added some household bleach and stirred with a brush. One died quickly, other spent a long time in hospital."
Chlorine is a toxic, yellow-green gas that is one of today's most heavily used chemical agents. Serious risks to our health and health of environment are being caused by widespread use of chlorine. The use of chlorine in household cleaners has recently raised much controversy.
Many household cleaners contain chlorine but labels indicate alias names of "sodium hypochlorite" or "hypochlorite." Whether chlorine is found alone or in a mixture with other chemicals, household products that contain chlorine pose a number of serious health risks. Automatic dishwashing detergents, chlorine bleach, chlorinated disinfectant cleaners, mildew removers and toilet bowl cleaners are some of products of special concern.
The fumes of cleaners containing a high concentration of chlorine when breathed in can irritate lungs and be particularly dangerous for people who suffer from heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema. When fumes are emitted in small, poorly ventilated rooms such as bathroom, risks are increased. Chlorine is also a highly corrosive material which is capable of damaging skin, eyes and other membranes.
When using detergents that contain chlorine in dishwasher or clothes washer air in your home becomes polluted through a process called "volatilization" which takes place when chlorine in water transfers chlorine to air. We then breathe contaminated air. Dishwashers are worst offenders as they release chemicals in a steamy mist when door is opened after washing. In a clothes washer, chorine mixes with dirt in clothes to create airborne, toxic chlorinated organic chemicals.
