Poisoning Caused by Inhalation of Detergents and Cleaning Agents

Today, the widespread use of detergents and cleaning agents in the home and workplace is unavoidable—from washing clothes to cleaning doors, walls, and floors. Wherever there is talk of cleaning, detergents and cleaning agents make their appearance. But these substances, while being useful, also create hazards to health, and using them correctly reduces these hazards. Some of the problems that detergents and cleaning agents may cause can be examined.

∴ Poisoning from inhaling the gases produced by detergents:

- Using bleaching agents in the enclosed space of the bathroom and toilet, due to the production of chlorine gas, irritates the airways and causes symptoms of poisoning in individuals. Proper ventilation of the area and not using concentrated solutions can help prevent these problems.

- Mixing bleach with very strong acidic compounds such as hydrochloric acid to better clean ceramic surfaces is very dangerous, and inhaling the resulting chlorine gas sometimes causes death.

- Patients with respiratory problems such as asthma, or people who have lung sensitivities, must under no circumstances be in contact with these chemicals, and using paper masks in unventilated environments cannot suffice.

∴ Skin problems caused by direct contact with detergents and cleaning agents:

- Detergent compounds have a mild caustic property that, as a result of prolonged contact with the skin's surface, has an irritating effect on it.

- In the final days of the year, illnesses caused by direct contact of the skin of the hands with bleaching and cleaning agents increase sharply; "dermatitis" in housewives, or hand eczema, is the most common illness during this period, which is followed by itching, redness, dry skin, and tiny blisters. The illness usually appears on the palm of the hand and on the fingertips.

- Keeping the hands in water and moisture for too long leads to a skin fungus. If these lesions are not treated in time, they cause inflammation and cracking of the skin.

- Repeated contact with bleaches causes the loss of the skin's oils at the site of contact, followed by itching, burning, sores, and watery and purulent discharge.

- The best way to prevent dry skin and the recurrence of lesions is to use creams containing urea, glycerin, petroleum jelly, and so on. Housewives must be sure to use gloves when spring cleaning and using detergents, cleaning agents, and bleaches, and because of the possibility of developing a sensitivity to rubber gloves, they should first wear cotton gloves and then rubber gloves.

∴ Eye injuries caused by detergents:

- Detergents and paint strippers are among the most dangerous substances for the eyes, and if they come into contact with the eye, they quickly damage the cornea and can even, in more severe cases, lead to perforation of the eyeball.

- Detergents can cause severe wounds to the eyelid and lead to adhesions of the eyeball and eyelid. The injury caused by these substances may be so serious that vision is completely lost.

- If a detergent or any other chemical comes into contact with the eye, you must immediately open and close the eye in water several times so that the substance is washed out of the eye. If the chemical remains in the eye, the injury caused by these substances worsens during the time before the injured person reaches an ophthalmologist.

- When working with chemicals and detergents, protective goggles must be used.

∴ The danger of children being poisoned by detergents:

- Detergents must be kept out of children's reach and used at the lowest concentration, because the higher the concentration, the more severe the harm caused by these detergents and cleaning agents.

- Accidental ingestion of these substances by children leads to inflammation and burns of the digestive tract and makes swallowing difficult.

- In the event of their children's oral poisoning, parents should not force them to vomit, because this causes further injury and burning of the digestive tract. Therefore, it is better, until the injured person is brought to a hospital or medical center, to perform dilution with water or milk, and to give the child milk or water repeatedly in amounts of 30 to 50 cc.

So let us not forget that:

1) When using chemical detergents, be sure to use a suitable mask.

2) When using chemicals and detergent and cleaning products, open the windows and turn on the ventilation so that air flows well through the environment.

3) Strictly avoid mixing chemicals such as hydrochloric acid and bleaching agents; the vapors and gases produced by this combination are highly toxic and suffocating.

4) The vapor given off by the combination of hydrochloric acid and bleach is very dangerous; it is recommended, especially for the eyes, skin, and lungs, to avoid combining these two substances.

5) The abundant use of detergents and cleaning agents, including scale removers and bleaches, in homes causes the dispersal of some dangerous chemical particles in the toilet, bathroom, and kitchen, and using these substances continuously together with hot water doubles their negative effect.

6) Always keep chemical products and detergents in their original container; never keep these substances in a food container (such as a soda bottle). Doing so causes children to mistakenly ingest these substances.

7) Always close the lid of chemicals quickly after use.

8) The best action for those poisoned through the lungs is the rapid removal of the person from the enclosed area and the use of fresh air, and contacting emergency services for the administration of oxygen and the use of anti-inflammatory medications.