Bleach vs. Vinegar

                               BLEACH

• The active ingredient in bleach is sodium hypochlorite
• the chemical formula of sodium hypochlorite is: NaOCl
• sodium hypochlorite is an ionic compound
• the average concentration of sodium hypochlorite in bleach when used as a household disinfectant is: 5.25%

 

 

VS.

                                  Vinegar

• The active ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid
• the chemical formula of acetic acid is: C2H4O2
• acetic acid is a molecular compound
• the average concentration of acetic acid in vinegar is between 4% and 8%

The Effectiveness of Bleach and Vinegar as Disinfecting Agents

Bleach

Bleach is an effective disinfecting agent. Bleach is effective against fungi, bacteria, algae and viruses and is widely known as a good disinfecting agent for hospitals and the community. Bleach  also decontaminates hepatitis and AIDS viruses. Organic materials such as blood or feces can inactivate chlorine based disinfectants, therefore the surface must be cleaned before disinfected. Chlorine bleach must be diluted with water and mixed freshly to ensure adequate levels of chlorine for antimicrobial activity which is when microorganisms are killed or their growth is inhibited.

Vinegar

Vinegar is also an effective disinfecting agent. The acetic acid in vinegar kills bacteria and viruses by denaturing the proteins and fats that make up these organisms. It has been researched that vinegar kills a range of household pathogens, so it can be used as an all-purpose cleaner. Vinegar and bleach inactivate the flu virus. Both vinegar and bleach are effective disinfectants.

Health and Environmental Effects of Bleach

Bleach

         Bleach can affect human health in a few ways. Bleach is corrosive and if it makes contact with skin it will burn. It is harmful to the human body if it is swallowed because it is toxic. Exposure to high concentrations of vapor or mist can cause, heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or obstructive lung disease.
         Bleach affects the environment in a number of ways; water pollution, wildlife populations, and air pollution. Water pollution occurs from bleach because many manufacturers rely chemical bleach and continuously release the chemicals into local water bodies where they react with other minerals and form toxins. Some chemicals that can be formed at called dioxins and PCDD's. Dioxins are very dangerous chemicals and PCDD's take many years to disappear. The toxins can contribute to cancer, endocrine disorders and other serious health effects. Wildlife populations are affected by bleach because dioxins are responsible for the endangered bald eagle population, and continuously reduce fish and bird species around the great lakes. Bleach causes air pollution because factories that rely on chemical bleach  release the toxins into the air during ventilation and exhaust processes.Some chlorine bleach bi-products that remain in the air eventually reach Earth's ozone layer where it assists in the depletion of the ozone layer, therefore assisting in Global Warming.

Health and Environmental Effects of Vinegar

Vinegar

      Vinegar has a few minor cautions to avoid and many positive health effects. The two cautions to take are to not get vinegar in your eyes, as it can cause moderate to high irritation and to not ingest large amounts of vinegar as it can cause nausea and vomiting. Vinegar is a natural, organic, bi-product of fruits vegetables and grains, which means that it is edible. As long as it is not ingested in large amounts, vinegar will not harm the body but instead help it. Small amounts of vinegar can increase the body's absorption of important minerals from the foods we eat and control blood sugar levels as well. Some cleaners cause breathing problems in young children and people with asthma but vinegar does not because it is natural.
        Vinegar does not negatively effect the environment in any way. As stated before, vinegar is organic and therefore it is biodegradable, meaning that it will be able to easily decompose, and it will not cause harm to the environment. Vinegar does not contain harmful, toxic chemicals, so if it is poured down the drain it would have the same effect as pouring any food down the drain. Many cleaners have major negative effects on the environment but regular store bought, white vinegar has no real harmful effect.

Risks and Benefits

                                                             Risks


Bleach:

• corrosive, can burn the skin
• may cause severe irritation or damage to eyes
• harmful if swallowed
• exposure to high concentrations of vapour or mist can cause heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems such as: asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or obstructive lung disease.
• can cause water pollution, in which the chemicals can contribute to cancer, endocrine disorders and other serious health effects.
• The chemicals of bleach can reduce the populations of fish and bird species around great lakes due to the water pollution created from the disposal of bleach into the water. 
• Chlorine bi-products can cause mutations, sterility and even extinction
• Air pollution is cause by factories that rely on chemical bleach, as they let the toxins into the air and into the Earth's ozone layer where it contributes to Global Warming

Vinegar:

• If vinegar comes in contact with the eyes, it can cause moderate - high irritation
• ingesting large amounts of vinegar can cause nausea and vomiting
• can strongly react with other cleaning substances such as bleach, therefore it should be used with caution when mixing with other substances

                                                       
                                                          Benefits


Bleach:

• effective disinfectant against fungi, bacteria and algae
• inactivates flu virus

Vinegar:

• Natural, organic bi-product. This means that it is edible and biodegradable, therefore there will be little health or environmental risks.
• all-in-one cleaner, no need to buy different cleaners for different purposes
• non-toxic (no fear of breathing in harmful chemicals and no fear of pouring harmful chemicals down the sink) 
• small amount of vinegar can have many health benefits such as increasing the body's absorption through minerals from the foods we eat, controlling blood sugar, etc.
• gentle on hands, no need for rubber gloves
• clean streak-free
• safe around young children, no fear of poison
• economical, much less expensive than other cleaners
• inactivates flu virus
• kills bacteria and virus's

Recommendation

         In my opinion, vinegar is a more suitable household disinfectant than bleach. Although bleach is a strong disinfectant, the health and environmental risks are far too great to be exposed to when they can be easily avoided by using vinegar instead. Vinegar has very few and very minor risks correlated with the product and yet it cleans just as well as bleach. When referring to the risks and benefits. it can be seen that bleach and vinegar both effectively disinfect against bacteria and viruses, but vinegar is an all-in-one cleaner whereas bleach is not. So not only does vinegar have very few risks and disinfects just as well as bleach but vinegar is also economically the better choice. Instead of purchasing a variety of products for different uses, vinegar can be used for all cleaning purposes. When taking into consideration all factors of bleach and vinegar, I believe vinegar to be the safer and better option.

Safe for everyone to use!

Contact

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the use of specific household cleaning products, feel free to contact the Ontario, Ministry of the Environment or visit their website at: www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/

References

1. Government of Hong Kong. (May 5, 2007). The Use of Bleach. Department of Health. February 26,2013. http://www.info.gov.hk/info/sars/en/useofbleach.htm

2. Catherine H. Daniels. (September 19, 2001). Fact Sheet for Vinegar/Acetic Acid Recommendations. Oregon Department of Agriculture. February 27, 2013. http://oregonstate.edu/dept/nurseryweeds//weedspeciespage/acetic_acid_factsheet.pdf

3. n.d. Sodium Hypochlorite Chemical. Powell, Fabrication and Manufacturing. February 27, 2013. http://www.powellfab.com/technical.information/sodium.hypochlorite/chemical_formula.aspx. 

4. n.d. Acetic Acid. Chem Spider. February 27, 2013. http://www.chemspider.com/chemical structure.171.html

5. n.d. (2002). Disinfectants Sodium. Lenntech. February 27, 2013. http://www.lenntech.com/processes/disinfection/chemical/disinfectants-sodium-hypochlorite.htm

6. Sunbelt Chemicals. (December 12, 2006). Materials Safety Data Sheet. MSDS. February 27, 2013. http://www.masseywholesale.com/msds/britebloeach.pdf

7. n.d. (August, 2009). Material Safety Data Sheet. The Clorox Company. February 28, 2013. http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/downloads/msds/bleach/cloroxregularbleach0809_.pdf

8. Emily Beach. (January 15, 2011). The Effects of Chlorine Bleach on the Environment. Livestrong. February 28, 2013. http://www.livestrong.com/article/217675-the-effects-of-chloring-bleach-on-the-environment/

9. n.d. (2010). The Perfect Household Cleaner. Vinegar Works Wonders. March 4, 2013. http://vinegarworkswonders.com/faqs.asp

10. n.d. (December 1, 2011). Material Safety Data Sheet. Flexo Products. March 4, 2013. http://msds.flecoproducts.com:8000/MSDS%20for%20Distributors/VINEGAR.pdf

11. Professor Povis Alleman. Health benefits of Vinegar. How Stuff Works. March 4, 2013. http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/the-health-benefits-of-vinegar3.htm 

12. n.d. (June 2011). Disinfection With Bleach. Multimedia. March 4, 2013. http://multimedia.3m.com

13. Bruce Gamage. (2003). A Guide to Selection and Use of Disinfectants. bccdc. March 4, 2013. http://www.bccdc.ca

14. Professor Peter Collingnan. (February 2, 2012). Does Vinegar Really Kill Houseld Germs. ABC Health and Wellbeing. March 4, 2013. http://www.abc.net.au/health/talkinghealth/factbuster/stories/2012/02/02/3407024.htm