How Bleach and Vinegar may Harm the Environment and Human health

Environment:

Sodium Hypochlorite

• Factories that rely on bleach emit toxins into the air during the ventilation and exhaust processes, some chlorine and related by-products remain in the air, where they contribute to air pollution
• Risk to local wildlife populations, have been linked to cancer in laboratory animals, The World Wildlife Fund also warns that these chlorine by-products can cause mutations, sterility and even extinction in wildlife species
• Manufacturers who use bleach often release it into local water bodies along with other liquid industrial waste, once it reaches the water, chlorine reacts with other minerals and elements to form a host of dangerous toxins

Acetic Acid 

• Vinegar is considered an “environmentally friendly” product 
• Vinegar only kills some species of plants, but has no other environmental impacts
• Vinegar does not produce any either, in fact, it relieves the air of pollutants.

Human Health:

Sodium Hypochlorite

• Inhalation: May cause irritation of respiratory tract
• Eye contact: May cause temporary eye irritation
• Skin contact: Prolonged contact may cause redness and irritation
• Ingestion: Ingestion may cause irritation to mucous membranes, gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

Acetic Acid 

• Skin contact: Extremely irritating and corrosive (reddening and itching, inflammation)
• Eye contact: May cause burns, blurred vision, conjunctivitis, conjunctival and corneal destruction and permanent injury
• Inhalation: Causes severe respiratory tract irritation. Affects the sense organs (nose, ear, eye, taste), and blood 
• Ingestion: Moderately toxic, corrosive, causes gastrointestinal tract irritation (burning and pain of the mouth, throat, and abdomen, coughing, ulceration, bleeding, nausea, abdomial spasms, vomiting, hematemesis, diarrhea