3. Asthma phenotypes of relevance for exposure to cleaning and disinfection chemicals. Cleaning and disinfection chemicals may lead to respiratory effects ranging from acute temporary upper airway irritation to obstructive lung disease, including asthma and asthma like disease.
VOCs and other chemicals released when using cleaning supplies contribute to chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions and headaches. Studies are underway to assess how these chemicals affect people who have asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
Formaldehyde may cause a burning sensation in your eyes, nose or throat, watery eyes, coughing, wheezing, skin irritation or nausea. There are also products and cleaning supplies that may complicate pre-existing health conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
The truth is, cleaning can literally make you sick, whether you are cleaning a house or an office. In fact, there are many ways cleaning can affect your health in a negative way. The effects can range from mild irritation to more serious threats.
Ventilation: This is the most critical factor. In a well-ventilated area, bleach fumes dissipate faster, sometimes within just a few hours. In contrast, the smell can linger for days in a closed-off room with no airflow.
Self-limited clinical manifestations resolve within 12 to 48 hours. In the presence of clinical lung disease, the clinical syndrome should be regarded as inhalation injury and not inhalation fever [36].
You can do that by placing a wet cloth on your nose and mouth. Open windows and doors to let toxic gases and fumes out. Immediately take the victim out to fresh air. Relieve any pressure on their body by loosening neck ties and removing tight clothing.
Chemical Inhalation:
If experiencing extreme pain or difficulty breathing, get medical care as soon as possible! If the affected person is unconscious, move the exposed person to fresh air at once, if safe to do so, and request emergency medical assistance (call 911 or tell someone to call for you).
A common house-cleaning mistake is combining ammonia with bleach. This combination results in an irritating fume called chloramine gas. Exposure to chloramine causes irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and airway. Symptoms include teary eyes, runny nose, sore throat, coughing and chest congestion.
Exposure to odors could result in health effects ranging from none, to mild discomfort, to more serious symptoms. Some chemicals with strong odors may cause eye, nose, throat or lung irritation. Strong odors may cause some people to feel a burning sensation that leads to coughing, wheezing or other breathing problems.
Drinking plenty of fluids, particularly water, aids in the thinned mucus in your lungs. This allows your body to evacuate the mucus and any trapped dust particles, allowing for cleaner breathing. Hydration also promotes general immune system function, which is vital in preventing diseases caused by dust inhalation.
Inhalation : May give off gas, vapour or dust that is very irritating or corrosive to the respiratory system. Ingestion : May cause burns to mouth, throat and stomach. Skin contact : Causes severe burns. Eye contact : Causes serious eye damage.
If a person swallows or inhales a chlorine-based product and shows symptoms of poisoning, contact the emergency services or go to the hospital immediately. In the United States, a person can also contact the National Poison Control helpline on 1-800-222-1222 for advice.
A large chemical exposure may additionally cause more serious effects such as difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, a faint feeling, or weakness. The worst effects from the most harmful chemicals are sudden collapse, convulsions, and possibly even death.
Symptoms of poison chemicals in your eye include eye pain, redness or swelling. Signs and symptoms if you swallow poison include digestive issues like diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting. Getting poison on your skin can cause a rash, pain and stinging.
If a person breathes large amounts of this chemical, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. If breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration. When breathing is difficult, properly trained personnel may assist the affected person by administering 100% oxygen. Keep the affected person warm and at rest.
Most people with less severe exposure recover fully, but people can develop persistent lung injury with reversible airway obstruction (reactive airways dysfunction syndrome) or, less frequently, bronchiolitis, and/or bronchiectasis.
Past studies have demonstrated that cleaning in a variety of work settings is a risk factor for adverse respiratory health effects, most notably asthma (1, 2). Excess asthma and respiratory symptoms have also been documented in persons cleaning at home (2, 3).
Fifteen minutes to half an hour is what you should aim for. The air in your home has pollutants at any given time, so that should be enough time to get rid of them. It's important to give your home a chance to let good, clean air in.
In the short-term, as soon as you breathe in harmful fumes, such as those produced by toxic substances or chemicals, it can cause serious irritation to the airways, including swelling in the nose and throat. This can make breathing difficult, hence the importance of calling an ambulance immediately.