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Health effects of Sodium Hypochlorite

There is spraying of 15 percent solution of sodium hypochloride ^ ^ite being used to disinfect food manufacturing equipment. My wife says it makes it difficult to breath when they are spraying that around her. It bothers me a little, but not as bad as her. I also do not have to stand in the same area. What are the health effects to exposure?

Peter Charette
- Presque Isle, Maine
 

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I think you mean sodium hypochlorite which is the same stuff as household bleach [adv: bleach/sodium hypochlorite in bulk on eBay or Amazon] and is widely used for sterilizing in the food industry.

The fumes that the solution gives off are chlorine gas. In high concentrations this gas is extremely toxic and will damage mucous membranes and your lungs. If the fumes are causing your wife problems then the concentration is too high. Either ventilate the area or wear a properly designed respirator.

John Holroyd
- Elkhorn,WI
 

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Peter,

The United States has the Right to Know Law, 29 CFR 1910.1200. Companies are legally required to make Material Safety Data (MSDS) sheets available to any worker that is exposed to a hazardous chemical. Your employer should have this information available to you. Ask them for an MSDS sheet on this chemical. The MSDS sheet should list potential hazards whether it is breathing, touching, ingesting, etc..

You can also search the internet for MSDS sheets as a secondary method. The University of Vermont has a good site that is free to the public.

Don't ignore any safety concerns you may have. Get the information you need, and if there is a chemical safety problem, make sure your management does something about it.

Tim Neveau
Rochester Hills, Michigan