Chlorine gas: What happens if you mix bleach and other cleaners
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The bottom line
Chlorine is a chemical element that takes the form of a gas at room temperature. It can cause burning and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, and can lead to coughing or lung injury. Chlorine gas mixed with water forms hypochlorite, which is found in bleach. Mixing bleach with an acid forms chlorine gas. If you inhale chlorine gas, leave the area immediately and breathe fresh air.
Prevention tips
Store bleach and other hypochlorite containing products up, away, and out of sight of children.
Read labels and follow instructions before using products containing hypochlorite.
Do not mix household chemicals such as bleach and ammonia or bleach and acid.
Wear gloves to protect skin when using products containing hypochlorite.
Be sure you are working in a well-ventilated area.
This really happened
A 43-year-old woman was cleaning the bathroom. She used a hydrochloric acid-containing toilet bowl cleaner because it was advertised to get stubborn stains out. She forgot to flush the toilet before using a toilet cleaner containing bleach to clean and kill germs. Immediately, her eyes started tearing, her nose and throat felt irritated, and she started coughing. She opened the bathroom windows and left the room. She was still coughing so called her poison center. The poison specialist informed her that mixing an acid with bleach forms chlorine gas. The poison specialist asked her about her symptoms and determined that eye and throat irritation had resolved after leaving the bathroom. Although she still had a cough, it had improved. The poison specialist confirmed that opening the windows to air out the bathroom and leaving the room had been the appropriate course of action. Since the symptoms were improving, she could stay at home. When the poison specialist followed up an hour later, all symptoms had resolved.
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What is chlorine gas?
Chlorine is a chemical element that is part of a group of 6 halogen chemicals on the periodic table. It is a gas at room temperature. Chlorine is very water soluble. When chlorine gas reacts with water it produces hypochlorite, which is found in bleach (typically 3-6% hypochlorite) and industrial strength cleaners (around 20%). Chlorine and chloramine are used in swimming pools to keep them clean.
What happens if you mix bleach and ammonia?
Ammonia is a common ingredient in glass cleaners. Mixing it with a hypochlorite such as bleach makes chloramine gas. Chloramine gas is less volatile than chlorine gas, so it is less likely to cause serious toxicity.
Mixing bleach with an acid makes chlorine gas instead. Many household cleaners contain acids, including vinegar and some toilet bowl cleaners.
Chlorine gas can also form when chlorine pool tablets spoil. This happens if water gets into the packaging or the package is stored somewhere humid.
What does chlorine gas smell like?
At room temperature, chlorine gas is a yellowish-green color. It has a noxious, intense odor that smells like bleach. The smell may not be noticeable in those who have been exposed to chlorine gas many times. Chlorine gas is heavier than air, so it may linger near the ground.
Symptoms of chlorine gas exposure
Chlorine gas causes burning of the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as a cough. More serious exposure can cause damage to the lungs and lead to shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness, chest pain, upper airway swelling and obstruction, and pneumonia. Burns to the skin and eyes can occur from exposure to the gas or higher concentration hypochlorite solutions.
Swallowing household bleach can cause mouth and throat irritation, but does not usually cause serious toxicity. However, swallowing higher concentration hypochlorite solutions can cause burns in the esophagus and stomach. If this occurs, toxic effects may include trouble swallowing, pain in the throat, chest and abdomen as well as vomiting blood.
What to do if you inhale chlorine gas
Leave the area immediately and breathe fresh air. If possible, shower for 20 minutes and breathe in the steamy air from the shower to help soothe your airway. Change your clothes. If you have trouble breathing or have other serious symptoms, you should seek medical attention.
Get expert help
If someone swallows bleach or another hypochlorite product, inhales chlorine gas or is exposed to chlorine gas in the eyes or on the skin, or if you have a question about using bleach or other hypochlorite products safely, use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
How is chlorine gas inhalation treated?
The first treatment for chlorine gas inhalation is to stop the exposure by leaving the affected area and seeking out fresh air to inhale. Taking a shower, inhaling humidified or steamy air, and changing your clothes is also recommended. For people with severe symptoms, medical care will be required and may include the administration of humidified oxygen, drugs to treat wheezing, intubation to help breathing, and (rarely) inhaled sodium bicarbonate for severe lung injury.
How long does chlorine gas stay in the air?
Chlorine gas can stay in the air for just a few minutes to several hours. It depends on the size and ventilation of the area as well as the amount of gas present. Open windows and doors to let in fresh air. In an industrial setting, leaking chlorine gas can be neutralized with sodium bicarbonate but this is not possible in the home setting.