Mixing of Bleach and Ammonia in Household Cleaning - The Unforeseen Danger

Introduction

Household bleach is a mixture of the chemical sodium hypochlorite and water. Bleach is a potential disinfectant that can kill viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Household bleaches usually contain sodium hypochlorite at a concentration between 3 to 9 percent. For industrial uses, a higher concentration of sodium hypochlorite is used. Bleach is corrosive and can result in eye or skin irritation.

Ammonia is a colorless and strong gas. If it is mixed in water, it is called liquid ammonia. Inhalation of ammonia can result in poisoning. Skin exposure to large amounts of ammonia can also result in poisoning.

Some household cleaners may contain ammonia. Products containing ammonia should never be mixed with bleach, as the chemical reaction releases chlorine gas, which can turn deadly.

What Happens on Mixing Bleach With Ammonia?

Mixing bleach and ammonia is highly dangerous, as these produce chloramine gas, which, when inhaled, can be deadly. Therefore, these two cleaning agents should always be balanced.

Most of the household cleaning products contain ammonia or bleach and are dangerous. Therefore, further combining these two can turn even more lethal.

Depending on the composition of the bleach, one or two types of toxic gases are produced. The chemical reaction is exothermic and may turn explosive if the area is not properly ventilated.

Therefore, ammonia and bleach containers should be kept separately, and they should not be successively used for cleaning surfaces. Only one of these chemicals should be used at a time, and the cleaned surface should be thoroughly rinsed with water. When combined, even a small amount of these chemicals can turn dangerous.

A bleach product can either be peroxide-based or chlorine-based.

• Chlorine-based Bleach:

Most bleach used in household cleaning and laundry products contains sodium hypochlorite as the active ingredient. The concentration of sodium hypochlorite ranges from 3 to 6 percent in such products. It may also contain other ingredients like calcium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium hydroxide in trace amounts.

Chlorine-based bleach products effectively remove stains and kill bacteria by oxidation reactions.

When chlorine-based bleach products get mixed with ammonia, sodium hypochlorite benign, the active ingredient reacts with ammonia to form lethal chloramine gas.

• Peroxide-based Bleach:

The three classes of peroxide-based bleach are sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate, and hydrogen peroxide. When peroxide-based bleach gets mixed with ammonia, oxygen is released. The reaction is exothermic and explosive.

What Are the Symptoms Associated With Ammonia-Bleach Exposure?

Exposure to by-products formed due to the reaction between ammonia and bleach can result in a medical emergency. However, the severity depends on the amount of exposure. Inhalation of chloramine gas affects the respiratory system and can result in the following symptoms:

• Coughing can occur as a sudden reflex reaction due to airway irritation.

• Nausea may also occur immediately.

• Eye irritation can result in watery eyes.

• Throat and nose irritation.

• As the diaphragm tries to expel the toxic gas, the victim starts gasping for air, which results in shortness of breath.

• Chest pain.

• Wheezing.

• Pneumonia and fluid accumulation within the lungs.

What to Do in Case of Accidental Exposure?

Immediate action should be taken in case of accidental mixing of bleach and ammonia. In case of a strong odor, leave the area immediately and move into a well-ventilated area away from the fumes or get some fresh air. The exposed clothing should be removed, and the exposed body part should be rinsed with water. Exposure to toxic gas is treated using steroid breathing treatment and oxygen therapy. In severe cases, chemical pneumonitis may occur. In such cases, temporary assistance with a breathing device may be needed.

What Are the Steps One Can Take To Prevent the Hazard?

• One of the steps that can be taken is to buy only one of these cleaning products; that is, avoid buying cleaning products that contain bleach and ammonia.

• If products containing ammonia and bleach are present at home, label them properly and affix a safety warning to the containers.

• Keep the products separately and try to use them in a designated area.

• After using the products, rinse the cleaned surface with running water.

• Dilute the products before use.

• Do not use the products in succession; use separate mops for each.

• Use personal protective equipment (goggles, mask, apron, and gloves) while handling such toxic products.

• Chlorine bleach is usually listed as chlorine, bleach, or sodium hypochlorite. Ammonia is listed as ammonium hydroxide or ammonia. Go through the product label before using a product.

• Urine should also not be mixed with bleach as it contains ammonia. Therefore, bleach should not be used to clean litter boxes, toilet bowls, or diaper pails, and flush toilets before urinating.

What Are Some Other Products That Should Not Be Mixed With Bleach?

Bleach And Acids:

Chlorine bleach, when mixed with an acid chlorine gas, is produced. Chlorine gas combines with water to form hypochlorous and hydrochloric acid.

Exposure to chlorine gas, even at low levels, can result in the following:

• Breathing issues.

• Coughing.

• Watery eyes.

• Runny nose.

High-level exposure to chlorine gas results in:

• Severe breathing issues.

• Vomiting.

• Chest pain.

• Pneumonia.

• Fluid accumulation in lungs.

• When absorbed through the skin, it results in swelling, pain, inflammation, and blisters.

• Very high-level exposure can result in death.

Some of the acid-based cleaning ingredients are:

• Citric acid.

• Vinegar.

• Acetic acid.

• Oxalic acid.

• Levulinic acid.

• Glycolic acid.

• Sodium bisulfate.

• Dilute sulfuric acid.

• Dilute hydrochloric acid.

Bleach and Other Cleaning Agents:

Bleach also reacts with some insecticides, oven cleaners, and hydrogen peroxide.

Conclusion

Household bleach is irritating, especially if used in less-ventilated spaces. Household bleach, when combined with cleaning products containing ammonia, results in the production of chloramine gas. This gas has a pungent odor and irritates the throat, skin, and eyes. In severe cases, it can lead to fluid accumulation within the lungs and even death. So proper precautions should be taken to prevent the mixing of bleach and ammonia products and make sure to go through the product label before purchasing.