Protection of the environment is an important aspect of human existence because it generally leads to reduced incidences of eco-system destruction. More importantly, activities that protect the environment result to reduced incidences of various health problems which results from a wide range of activities that are anthropogenic. While protecting the environment is considered a humans’ moral obligation, it is rather disturbing to note that the same humans are extensively involved in activities that lead to environmental pollution and degradation. This degradation is considered hazardous because ultimately, it destroys the very beautiful environment that humans are supposed to protect and at the same time the health of animals, plants and humans is put at risk. Unfortunately, most of the things that we as humans do, either knowingly or unknowingly, have a great impact on the environment. Environmental consciousness is a necessary tool which can enable humans save the environment since they will be cautious about engaging in activities that destroy the environment. Being environmentally conscious helps people act in ways that can help save the environment. In light of this argument, chlorine bleach, which has been used both at the manufacturing and household level for cleaning purposes, poses significant risks to the environment. Considering this fact, a number of countries in Europe have resorted to banning the use of chlorine bleach in an attempt to save the environment. In other countries use of chlorine bleach has been restricted, in an effort to protect and preserve the environment as well as the health of humans, animals and plants. So in general terms, what is chlorine bleach and does its use really cause harm to the environment as a whole?
In chemical terms, chlorine bleach is also known as sodium hypochlorite and it is a powerful and effective disinfectant that is widely available and relatively inexpensive (sodium hypochlorite is the active content in chlorine bleach). It is basically sodium hypochlorite dissolved in water and the bleach can be found in most stores (Mekonnen, Admassu, Wassie & Bladglegne, 2015). Because of the fact that it is a powerful agent, it should be used in low concentrations (should be heavily diluted with water). Due to its high reactivity, the compound is considered hazardous (Kettle et al., 2014). Being a powerful cleaning agent, that’s cheap and easily available, most students at Winthrop University are more oriented towards using it in their cleaning activities while anticipating for fast and more efficient cleaning results. Moreover, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States, together with the country’s Department of Agriculture, has approved the use of chlorine bleach as a surface disinfectant. This bleach is used by students to clean clothes, whiten fabrics, kill bacteria and sanitize spills. Most of these students do not have the slightest idea about the hazardous substances contained in this bleach. Due to the lack of this knowledge, some may assume that using more bleach makes cleaning more effective. In addition, students do not have the basic understanding that regular and frequent use of chlorine bleach in large amounts and in high concentrations is hazardous to their health and the environment. For example, lung exposure to chlorine bleach has been a major issue of concern about its use for a number of years. It has been established that frequent exposure of our respiratory system to chlorine over a long period of time can cause burns in the system that are hard to treat. Additionally, the fact that sodium hypochlorite is a highly reactive substance makes it easily react with substances such as ammonia and when this happens, chloramines, which are very toxic gases are produced. Most students at Winthrop University use chlorine bleach in normal household activities and as a result, other cleaners which contain acids may be mixed with the bleach. This mixing causes a reaction that leads to the release of chlorine gas which even at very minute amounts may irritate the mucous membranes hence causing problems such as respiratory system issues, breathing difficulties, allergic conditions of nose and eyes. It is important to establish that exposure to extremely high levels of chlorine gas may lead to death. Its therefore without doubt that use of chlorine bleach has detrimental impacts on air, wildlife, water bodies as well as human health.
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Use (especially industrial use) of chlorine bleach leads to contamination of water bodies. In most cases, manufactures who rely on use of chlorine bleach release it to local water bodies. Water bodies contain minerals and elements and chlorine reacts with them to form hazardous substances and toxins. These toxins are dangerous and they last for ages in the water bodies since they take many years to dissolve. It is important to establish that this is not only associated with short-term health problems, but also long-term health and environmental problems because of the fact that the toxins produced from the reactions between chlorine and minerals form substances known as “persistent organic pollutants” which take decades to disappear from the water bodies. Examples of such substances includes dioxins and furams (“Chlorine Sodium Hypochlorite: 1. Introduction,” n.d). These are just but a few reasons why use of chlorine bleach is harmful to our health and detrimental to the environment and therefore, this essay will attempt to convince and persuade students at Winthrop University that use of chlorine bleach with hazardous substances is harmful to the environment. In addition, it will give alternatives to chlorine bleach which can not only save the environment, but also protect our health form harmful health conditions such as cancer.
There have been numerous studies that have been conducted whose results have been consistent with the fact that the by-products of chlorine are harmful to our health. According to Greenpeace, dioxin is a very dangerous chemical that science has ever known considering the fact that it has been associated to chronic conditions such as cancer and endocrine disorders. Moreover, the West Virginia University Extension has established chlorine-related substances such a dioxins have a unique ability of mimicking human hormones and as a result have been associated with testicular and breast cancer as well as low sperm count. In addition to these human health problems, the Extension has also been able to link chlorine by-products with cancerous conditions in laboratory animals. There are also claims that exposure of wildlife to chlorine by-products may cause mutations as well as sterility (“Chlorine Sodium Hypochlorite: 1. Introduction,” n.d). Therefore, if use of chlorine bleach would be restricted among students, the incidences of such conditions would consequently reduce.
Given that these substances are more concentrated in the water bodies; use of chlorine bleach also puts marine life at great jeopardy. For instance, in the mid twentieth century, eagles near the Great Lake were decimated by dioxins and the number of fish as well as other bird species near the Great Lake has continued to reduce over the years. To aquatic organisms, chlorine bleach is very toxic. Some environmentalists have even called for a ban of chlorine bleach due to its toxic effects on the environment. A point worth noting is that chlorine bleach is toxic; and every time it is washed down the drain and hence rivers and lakes after being used by students in their cleaning activities, it is given an opportunity to spread to all other parts of the environment. Fish are the major group of animals that live in water and therefore they are heavily affected (“Chlorine Sodium Hypochlorite: 1. Introduction,” n.d).
The major issue associated with use of chlorine bleach with hazardous substances is chlorine’s persistence in the environment (“Chlorine Sodium Hypochlorite: 1. Introduction,” n.d). The release of even minute amounts of chlorine to the environment will lead to accumulation and eventually long-term environmental and health concerns. This is where the issue of bio-magnification and its dangers step in; West Virginia State University Extension has broken down the dangers associated with bio-magnification: toxins in soil and those in water are consumed by microorganisms as well as fish. These serve as sources of food for organisms that are at a higher level in the food chain. Accumulation of toxins increases as we go higher on the food chain levels. This therefore results to persistent accumulation of chlorine in the environment.
The effects of chlorine bleach on air are equally important. As mentioned earlier, use of chlorine bleach consequently leads to certain chemical reactions which release toxic fumes to the air. When such toxic chemicals are released into the air, air pollution results. We all know that this is the air that all creatures breath, and therefore, use of this toxic substance put millions of lives at risk. Moreover, use of chlorine bleach by factories leads to accumulation of toxins in air through exhaust and ventilation. Reach for Unbleached Foundation establishes that presence of toxins associated with chlorine in air causes severe respiratory problems that could be short term or long term (Nickmilder, Carbonnelle & Bernard, 2007). In addition, medical conditions of the heart and the blood may also result. One of the main air-related problem associated with chlorine is its detrimental effects on the ozone layer. This is a layer that protects the earth against global warming and therefore its depletion can result to serious and severe health conditions. Protection of the ozone layer from these hazardous effects can help protect people from cancerous conditions such as skin cancer as well as protecting the environment from the effects associated with global warming.
Plants too are not spared by the effects of chlorine bleach on the environment. Chlorine bleach is considered caustic (ability to bleach), and therefore it damages the soil while causing death of plants. Two ways in which chlorine bleach damages the plants have been established; minerals in chlorine bleach, i.e. sodium, causes a salt overload on the plant system. While chlorine is naturally found in soil, too much of it causes a condition that is known as chlorine toxicity in plants. Another thing to consider is the PH of chlorine bleach (11). Its presence in soil raises the soil’s PH which consequently blocks the ability of plants to absorb minerals such as iron, magnesium and calcium as well as nutrients that are required for the proper growth of plants. Therefore, when soil has been contaminated by the bleach it is considered unsuitable for planting (“How Does Clorox Bleach Affect Plants? | Hunker,” 2018).
It is important to note the various objections to the fact that chlorine bleach has detrimental effects to the environment. It has been stipulated that the chlorine bleach used for household purposes contains very small amounts (3-8%) of sodium hypochlorite. It might be argued that such small amounts may not have effects on the environment. For instance, some disagree that skin contact with the bleach can cause harm due to poor absorption of chlorine from the skin which means it cannot pass through. Though this could be true, we cannot forego the fact that it may cause allergic reactions on the skin. Moreover, according to a number of evaluations done by the European Commission (EC), there are no negative health effects associated with long-term use of chlorine bleach. In addition, CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry refuted the argument that sodium hypochlorite accumulates in the food chain. The Agency adds to its claims by citing that sodium hypochlorite in air is broken down to natural substances by sunlight. In the soil or water, the compound is broken down to sodium, calcium and hypochlorite ions and the effects of substances formed by their consequential reaction in soil or water are not clearly known. In addition, some scholars have claimed that once chlorine bleach has been released into the drains, it reacts with organic matter and hence making sure that no traces of sodium hypochlorite reaches the environment. There are additional claims that chlorine is not persistent in air, and if chlorine bleach is handled properly by consumers, the environmental effects are insignificant. Quit interesting is the argument that during the disinfection process, most of the bleach goes back to the original form of salt water. Notably, a study conducted by Greatorex et al., in 2010 established that chlorine bleach is an effective agent that can be used to reduce the viability of Human Influenza virus. Moreover, chlorine bleach has been found useful during dermatologic surgery (Hughes & Brown, 2016). Its such arguments which lead us back to our main question; is chlorine bleach harmful to the environment? Chlorine bleach is obviously a dangerous substance. This is an obvious fact given that its danger is usually printed on the labels of containers containing it.
Conclusion
Though there are a number of articles in existence which have been conducted to establish the importance and effectiveness of chlorine bleach, there is more than enough compelling evidence that chlorine bleach is a hazardous compound that has detrimental effects not only to the environment but also to our health. Despite this, some individuals may not agree with the idea that use of chlorine bleach is harmful to the environment and their health. Moreover, nearly every household in America uses chlorine bleach for various cleaning activities. This therefore means that with all the evidence tabled above with regards to its harms, some individuals may still opt to continue its use. Hence to at least protect their health, there are various precautions put in place by EPA regarding the use of chlorine bleach. For instance, it should be used in well ventilated areas; in addition, given that chlorine bleach is a highly reactive substance, combining it with other cleaners that may contain substances such as ammonia and acids should be avoided. Moreover, chlorine bleach should be used in the right amounts and it should be diluted with water to produce low concentrations. Chlorine bleach becomes more hazardous when there are large and concentrated amounts in the environment. Since completely eradicating the use of chlorine bleach might take some time, it is important to make sure that students at Winthrop University use chlorine bleach with caution. To ensure this happens, there is need for them to be well educated on the importance of following the above mentioned precautions whenever they are using the bleach. Though this might not actually reduce the occurrence of chlorine bleach in the environment, it will ensure that students who have been using chlorine bleach in preference to other whiteners acquire knowledge regarding the harmful effects of the bleach. Consequently, this knowledge might compel them to make the decision to switch to other safer and healthier cleaners.
Despite the fact that these precautions sound so much helpful, it is important to consider the much safer and healthy alternatives to chlorine bleach that are available. More interestingly, there are environmentally conscious companies which are in existence whose main production focus is on creating safe-to-use products that can actually clean as well as chlorine bleach. More specifically, natural alternatives are the best as they pose no harm to the environment. Rather that purchasing chlorine bleach, students are urged to make their own bleach using substances that are environmental friendly. Some of the available substances that can be used as whiteners include; hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, vinegar and borax. These are easily available and cheap, with them being less harmful as compared to chlorine bleach (Reisch, 2009).
It’s the responsibility of students at Winthrop University to realize that the decision of stopping the use of chlorine bleach will prevent build-up of toxins in the environment which will eventually bring environmental and health problems in future. Though it may seem out of this world and quite difficult, one of the major recommendation that I would suggest in relation to dealing with the hazardous problems of chlorine bleach is its inexistence. Its inexistence will definitely lead to a cessation in its use. If policies were to be made by policy-makers that would ban manufacturers from producing chlorine, then this would the ultimate solution that would protect the environment from its effects. It would therefore be correct to say that this problem has been created by humans and it is their responsibility to deal with it so that we can save the environment.
References
Chlorine Sodium Hypochlorite: 1. Introduction. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.greenfacts.org/en/chlorine-sodium-hypochlorite/l-2/index.htm
Greatorex, J. S., Page, R. F., Curran, M. D., Digard, P., Enstone, J. E., Wreghitt, T., … Nguyen-Van-Tam, J. S. (2010). Effectiveness of Common Household Cleaning Agents in Reducing the Viability of Human Influenza A/H1N1. PLoS ONE , 5 (2), e8987. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008987
How Does Clorox Bleach Affect Plants? | Hunker. (2018, April 3). Retrieved from https://www.hunker.com/12231831/how-does-clorox-bleach-affect-plants
Hughes, M. P., & Brown, T. S. (2016). The Utility of Household Bleach in Dermatologic Surgery. Dermatologic Surgery , 42 (10), 1222-1223. doi:10.1097/dss.0000000000000794
Kettle, A. J., Albrett, A. M., Chapman, A. L., Dickerhof, N., Forbes, L. V., Khalilova, I., & Turner, R. (2014). Measuring chlorine bleach in biology and medicine. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects , 1840 (2), 781-793. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.07.004
Mekonnen, D., Admassu, A., Wassie, B., & Biadglegne, F. (2015). Evaluation of the efficacy of bleach routinely used in health facilities against mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Ethiopia. Pan African Medical Journal , 21 . doi:10.11604/pamj.2015.21.317.5456
Nickmilder, M., Carbonnelle, S., & Bernard, A. (2007). House cleaning with chlorine bleach and the risks of allergic and respiratory diseases in children. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology , 18 (1), 27-35. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3038.2006. 00487.x
REISCH, M. S. (2009). INHERENTLY SAFER WATER PURIFICATION. Chemical & Engineering News , 87 (6), 22-23. doi:10.1021/cen-v087n006.p022
