Unit 1: Properties of Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) and their Effect on the Environment
Bleach is a generic name for a variety of chemical products which include products to whiten clothes, lighten hair colour and remove stains. I will be specifically talking about Clorox Bleach which is a dilute solution of sodium hypochlorite. However sodium hypochlorite, the bleaching, stain removal, and disinfecting ingredient isn’t the only ingredient in Clorox Bleach. Other ingredients include sodium chloride (table salt), which thickens and stabilizes the solution; Sodium carbonate (washing soda), which is an alkaline cleaning agent that breaks down alcohol and grease stains; and Sodium hydroxide (lye) which is also an alkaline cleaning agent that breaks down fatty, oily or acidic stains; and finally, Sodium polyacrylate which is a dispersant that prevents loosened soils from depositing back on fabrics during the laundry cycle.
The Clorox Company makes its own sodium hypochlorite by buying commercial chlorine, which is prepared by passing
an electric current through seawater to produce pure chlorine and sodium hydroxide. They then take the chlorine they bought
and bubble the gas through a solution of water and sodium hydroxide. The chlorine is then converted to sodium hypochlorite.
Clorox-brand household bleach is a 6 percent solution of sodium hypochlorite and the other 94 percent is cleaning agents,
stabilizers and dispersants. Clorox claims that their household bleach does not harm the environment because it begins and
ends as salt water in a fully sustainable cycle. They claim that during your use and disposal of bleach, about 95 percent to 98
percent of it breaks down rather quickly, therefore it will not be able to contaminate our groundwater. The article also states
that the remaining two percent to five percent is effectively treated by our sewer or septic systems. When used for cleaning
and disinfecting, bleach cannot form dioxins. This is supported by several independent studies. To form a dioxin, you need
the type of organic building blocks that are typically found in the pulp bleaching process, which are not found in a household
setting. (McCabe, 2001) However, some other sources have claimed otherwise. Though it is relatively safe, there are certain
mistakes that could cause some problems. For instance, if you mix Clorox Bleach with toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers,
household ammonia, vinegar or other strong acids then it will react chemically with sodium hypochlorite to release poisonous
chlorine gas into the environment I believe with our sewer and septic systems in Canada, we don’t have to worry about our
household Clorox bleach contaminating the environment. What do you guys think?
Do you believe Jim McCabe about the safety of Clorox bleach. Do you think that if Clorox bleach was used in a third
world country or somewhere where there isn’t appropriate levels of sewer and septic systems, if it would affect the environment.
The Clorox Company makes its own sodium hypochlorite by buying commercial chlorine, which is prepared by passing
an electric current through seawater to produce pure chlorine and sodium hydroxide. They then take the chlorine they bought
and bubble the gas through a solution of water and sodium hydroxide. The chlorine is then converted to sodium hypochlorite.
Clorox-brand household bleach is a 6 percent solution of sodium hypochlorite and the other 94 percent is cleaning agents,
stabilizers and dispersants. Clorox claims that their household bleach does not harm the environment because it begins and
ends as salt water in a fully sustainable cycle. They claim that during your use and disposal of bleach, about 95 percent to 98
percent of it breaks down rather quickly, therefore it will not be able to contaminate our groundwater. The article also states
that the remaining two percent to five percent is effectively treated by our sewer or septic systems. When used for cleaning
and disinfecting, bleach cannot form dioxins. This is supported by several independent studies. To form a dioxin, you need
the type of organic building blocks that are typically found in the pulp bleaching process, which are not found in a household
setting. (McCabe, 2001) However, some other sources have claimed otherwise. Though it is relatively safe, there are certain
mistakes that could cause some problems. For instance, if you mix Clorox Bleach with toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers,
household ammonia, vinegar or other strong acids then it will react chemically with sodium hypochlorite to release poisonous
chlorine gas into the environment I believe with our sewer and septic systems in Canada, we don’t have to worry about our
household Clorox bleach contaminating the environment. What do you guys think?
Do you believe Jim McCabe about the safety of Clorox bleach. Do you think that if Clorox bleach was used in a third
world country or somewhere where there isn’t appropriate levels of sewer and septic systems, if it would affect the environment.
Link: http://factsaboutbleach.com/bleach_and_the_environment.html
Works Cited
Clorox Bleach Facts – Effects Of Bleach In The Environment, factsaboutbleach.com/bleach_and_the_
environment.html.
environment.html.
Kirchhoff, Herb. “Chemicals in Clorox Bleach.” Hunker.com, Hunker, 28 Apr. 2011, www.hunker.com/
13422673/chemicals-in-clorox-bleach.
13422673/chemicals-in-clorox-bleach.
Alfred, et al. “Cleaning With Bleach: Is It Safe?” Compact Appliance, 30 Jan. 2018, learn.
compactappliance.com/cleaning-with-bleach/.
compactappliance.com/cleaning-with-bleach/.
Personally, I was shocked to learn that 95-98 percent of bleach breaks down relatively quickly after disposal. I assumed that bleach would be quite damaging to the environment. While this is clearly not an extremely pressing issue, I still believe that it is something we should continue to monitor to ensure that it is properly being removed from water sources. Considering that many third world countries do not have the resources to properly dispose of toxic chemicals such a bleach, we should be monitoring this issue even more closely in said locations.
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