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.