Is Breathing in Bleach Bad? The Dangers of Inhaling Bleach Fumes

Breathing in bleach is extremely dangerous and can be life-threatening. Bleach contains chemicals like chlorine that are highly toxic when inhaled.

Why Breathing Bleach is So Dangerous

Bleach contains chemicals like sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hydroxide. When bleach is mixed with water or acids, it releases chlorine gas. Chlorine gas can cause severe irritation and damage to the eyes, skin, lungs, and throat.

Inhaling chlorine gas can lead to coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fluid buildup in the lungs. At high concentrations, it can cause respiratory failure, pulmonary edema, and death.

Effects of Breathing Bleach Fumes

Short-Term Effects	Long-Term Effects
Coughing, choking	Asthma
Throat irritation	Respiratory infections
Burning eyes, nose, throat	Lung scarring
Wheezing, chest tightness	Chronic bronchitis
Nausea, vomiting	Lung cancer

Exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Short-term effects include coughing, choking, wheezing, nausea, and burning sensations. Long-term effects like respiratory infections, asthma, lung scarring, and even cancer can occur with repeated exposure.

Situations Where Bleach Inhalation Occurs

There are certain situations where bleach inhalation is more likely to occur:

• Cleaning with bleach – Using bleach cleaners in small, poorly ventilated areas can allow concentrated fumes to build up.
• Mixing bleach and other chemicals – Never mix bleach with products containing ammonia or acids, as this creates toxic chlorine and chloramine gases.
• Accidents with bleach – Spilling bleach directly onto the skin or eyes can cause immediate burning and irritation.
• Suicide attempts – Some use bleach to attempt self-harm through ingestion or inhalation. This is extremely dangerous.

It’s important to always use bleach in well-ventilated areas, wear gloves and eye protection, and never mix bleach with other chemicals. Seek medical help immediately if bleach is inhaled or gets in the eyes.

First Aid for Bleach Inhalation

If bleach fumes are inhaled, it’s important to get to fresh air immediately. Other steps include:

• Move the person away from the contaminated area.
• Call emergency services like 911 immediately.
• Administer oxygen if available.
• Have them rest and avoid exertion.
• Remove any contaminated clothing.
• Flush eyes or skin with cool water if irritated.
• Seek medical evaluation, even if symptoms resolve, as lung damage may have occurred.

Bleach inhalation requires rapid medical treatment to avoid complications. Never assume someone is fine just because initial symptoms like coughing have improved.

Preventing Bleach Inhalation

To avoid inhaling dangerous bleach fumes:

• Always use bleach in well-ventilated areas.
• Open windows and use fans to circulate air.
• Consider safer alternatives like hydrogen peroxide.
• Wear gloves and eye protection when using bleach.
• Never mix bleach with other cleaners.
• Store bleach securely out of reach of children.
• Follow all usage and safety instructions on the label.

Diluting bleach appropriately and limiting exposure time can also reduce risk. Only use bleach when absolutely necessary, and never around young children or pets.

FAQ

Is it safe to mix bleach and vinegar?

No, never mix bleach and vinegar. Mixing bleach and vinegar creates chlorine gas, which is highly toxic if inhaled. Even small amounts of chlorine gas can irritate lungs and airways.

Can inhaling bleach kill you?

Yes, inhaling bleach can potentially kill you. Inhaling concentrated amounts of bleach or prolonged exposure to fumes can lead to respiratory failure and death. Seek immediate medical help if bleach is inhaled.

What does inhaling bleach do to lungs?

Inhaling bleach irritates and damages the tissues of the lungs and respiratory tract. It can cause fluid buildup, swelling, and bronchospasms in the lungs. Long-term scarring, higher infection risk, and reduced lung function can result.

How long does bleach inhalation last?

Acute symptoms like coughing and sore throat may last for several hours after bleach inhalation. However, lung damage can persist much longer and certain symptoms like wheezing may continue for days or weeks after exposure.

Can you die from cleaning with bleach?

Extremely unlikely when used properly. But using bleach to clean small enclosed spaces can produce concentrated fumes. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of chlorine gas can potentially lead to death in severe cases.

What does bleach do to your brain?

Bleach has no known effects on the brain when inhaled or absorbed through the skin. However, ingesting bleach can potentially cause brain damage from chemical burns and the body’s reaction to poisoning.

How much bleach does it take to kill you?

As little as one cup of bleach can kill if ingested. For inhalation, severe effects require prolonged exposure to very concentrated fumes exceeding safe exposure limits. The amount needed would vary based on the strength of the bleach.

For more information, see this safety overview of bleach