5 Most Dangerous Household Chemicals
Household chemicals can totally make our lives easier, but it’s important to remember
that many of them are dangerous when used improperly. When an accident
strikes, household chemical spills can be a major source of injury and property
damage. Make sure these five chemicals are always stored safely in our home or
business to maintain safety.
Let’s take an example of Bhopal
disaster, also referred as the Bhopal gas tragedy, was a gas leak incident on 2nd and 3rd
December, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. Many people lost their lives.
Ammonia
Ammonia fumes are a powerful annoyance,
potentially harming our skin, eyes, nose, lungs and throat. The harmful effects of Cleaning with Ammonia we just can’t ignore. Ammonia is a chemical, which is widely used in the
manufacturing of household and
industrial cleaners. However, the cleaning products which we use often
contain harmful chemicals.
Ammonia is known for its
very penetrating odor. The smell alone can cause irritation to
people with breathing problems. Our eyes may begin to tear up as soon as we
smell it, even in the low concentrations that are usually reserved for
household cleaning.
Bleach
Bleach,
another useful but dangerous cleaner, bleach also has strong corrosive
properties that can do serious damage to the human body. Fumes from bleach are very overpowering, as we can tell by the smell, and when inhaled they can cause a wide variety of health problems. A European study showed that bleach can react to produce
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), most of which are toxic. Inhaling
these fumes is
potentially carcinogenic.
Antifreeze
Antifreeze is an
additive which lowers the freezing point of a water-based liquid and increases
its boiling point. The most common water-based antifreeze solutions used in electronics cooling are mixtures of water and either ethylene glycol (EGW)
or propylene glycol (PGW). The use of ethylene glycol has a longer history,
especially in the automotive industry. However, EGW solutions formulated for
the automotive industry often have silicate based rust inhibitors that can coat
and/or clog heat exchanger surfaces. Ethylene glycol is listed as a toxic
chemical requiring care in handling and disposal.
Drain
Cleaners.
Household drain cleaners are
really powerful chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide, caustic potash, peroxide
or bleach. Because of their high toxicity levels, they are hazardous – and potentially fatal
– if inhaled or swallowed. They will also cause serious burns if allowed
contact with the skin.
Air
Fresheners
Air fresheners contain phthalates and many other hazardous chemicals such as
benzene, formaldehyde, propellants, solvents, benzenes, and synthetic musks,
among others. These findings prove that air fresheners have an acute effect on mice and the potential
for toxic effects on
humans. Briefly inhaling a
small amount of a spray air
freshener might cause some coughing, choking, or difficulty
catching the breath. These effects should get better quickly with fresh air. Liquid air freshener, when swallowed in small amounts, can cause minor irritation to the
mouth, nausea, and vomiting.Rai University, Ahmedabad
-By Ravi Prajapati
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