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Mixed bleach with acid and inhaled it

Q. Hi I was at work and I mixed phosphoric acid with bleach by accident we inhaled a bit of it then left the room for fresh air. But my throat was not burning but scratchy like I was catching a cold. My chest felt like some one was sitting on me. I felt better after drinking several bottles of water and inhaling fresh air. I wonder should I go to the doctor. It has been several hours and I feel fine. What would the doctor do that I can't do at home.

Anissa Pendergrass
Custodian - Louisville, Kentucky, United States
November 21, 2008

A. Hi, Anissa. Glad you are feeling better. You have inhaled chlorine gas but it is certainly possible that you are fine; unfortunately it's impossible for me to hazard a guess as to what your doctor might or might not discover from examining you. And I can't comment because without medical training. I don't even know whether your doctor would have a particular test or inspection he would want to do based on the accident and your medical history. If you have a regular doctor, just phone the office, tell them what happened and let them decide.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

A. Chlorine gas is very irritating. I mixed bleach with potassium permanganate [on eBay or Amazon] and it was very irritating. I was better after a few hours.

TSL Lofland
- marshall, North Carolina
August 12, 2022

August 12, 2022

Magazine: "C&EN" (chemical and engineering news)
Date: 13-Nov-2019
Article: Accidental mix of bleach and acid kills Buffalo Wild Wings employee.

Incidents like this, which create chlorine gas, occur more than 2,000 times per year in the US.

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Be safe ...

Leon Gusak
- Winnipeg, CANADA

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