Besides the obvious factors that can weigh in on sickness while cleaning, some people find the harsh chemical cleaners used in the process is enough to make them sick. Common cleaners like bleach and store-bought products containing bleach and other chemical additives can cause sickness if they aren't handled properly.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) found in cleaning supplies, as well as bleach and ammonia, can exacerbate allergies symptoms and lead to headaches, itchy eyes, runny nose, and sore throat.
The Notorious VOCs
As anyone who has used ammonia or bleach without proper ventilation can tell you, VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, and skin reactions, or more severely, trigger asthma symptoms or damage the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system.
Chlorine gas and water combine to make hydrochloric and hypochlorous acids. Chlorine gas exposure, even at low levels and short periods of time, almost always irritates the mucous membranes (eyes, throat, and nose), and causes coughing and breathing problems, burning and watery eyes, and a runny nose.
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.
A small chemical exposure can cause tearing eyes and burning of the eyes, nose, throat, chest and skin. It may cause headache, sweating, blurred vision, stomach aches and diarrhea. It is common for even mild symptoms from a harmful chemical to make people feel anxious.
Breathing high amounts of chlorine gas can lead to a build-up of fluid in the lungs and severe shortness of breath that could lead to death if untreated. Immediately or within a few hours after breathing chlorine gas, the lungs can become irritated, causing coughing and/or shortness of breath.
After accidentally inhaling the fumes, some individuals have reported feeling stinging in their nose and eyes, coughing, and lightheadedness, all of which are symptoms that indicate the corrosive properties of the substance. Additionally, chlorine-based bleach can damage your skin and eyes.
It can also be used as a cleaning booster to traditional laundry detergent. However, bleach has an unpleasant, overwhelming, and sometimes harmful odor that can linger for days.
Right after being exposed to these fumes, the best at-home action is getting fresh air. Try to ventilate your indoor living space as much as possible. You may want to consider spending a significant amount of time outside in the hours following breathing in the fumes.
A majority of the patients with mild to moderate irritant exposure have a self-limited course with full recovery seen within 48 to 72 hours.
Toilet bowl cleaners and deodorizers can cause extensive damage in the: Lungs. Mouth. Stomach.
Chlorine bleach liquid and vapors can irritate your skin, eyes, nose and throat. Dermatitis may result from direct skin contact. Ingestion can cause esophageal injury, stomach irritation and prolonged nausea and vomiting.
You may get overwhelmed when cleaning if you have a lot of stuff and clutter, or have not made a plan of attack before starting to clean a space. With no plan, it can be difficult to visualize what needs to be done, what you have already done, and what needs the most attention.
Bleach can irritate the skin and eyes. Breathing in bleach over a long period of time can increase your risk of cancer. A dangerous gas can be formed when bleach is combined with certain chemicals (like ammonia). Bleach causes the buildup of chloroform in the air.
Symptoms range from gagging, pain and irritation in the mouth and throat; pain and possible burns in the esophagus and stomach; vomiting; and shock can appear right away to within a few hours.
Eye protection and a face mask are highly recommended when using bleach given the toxicity of the fumes, but gloves are mandatory, as bleach corrodes skin on contact (it actually breaks skin down and begins to form chemical burns – that's why you might think your skin feels oily after coming into contact with the ...
Inhalation of bleach can cause nervous system and brain damage, dermal contact of bleach can cause rash and burning.
Important to note: When bleach is mixed with acid (ex/ vinegar, toilet bowl cleaners) it creates chlorine gas. When bleach is mixed with an ammonia product, it creates chloramine gas. Both of these gases are very irritating to inhale and can cause coughing, chest tightness, wheezing and headache.
People who develop any symptoms after inhaling chlorine gas should move to fresh air immediately. Thoroughly ventilate the involved area by opening doors and windows. Seek medical attention, or contact poison control, if symptoms do not resolve or if more severe symptoms develop.
Treatment may involve administering oxygen, whether through a mask, the nose, or through a tube; a bronchoscopy to view damage to the airway or suction debris and mucus; as well as medications or inhalers. While the lungs can heal to a certain extent, not all damage is reversible.
Some chemicals leave the body quickly after a person is exposed. Others may remain in fat, blood, or bones for a long time. For example, arsenic usually stays in the body for only 3 days after a person is exposed 1 time. Other chemicals, such as the pesticide DDT, can stay in the body for 50 years or more.