Drinking bleach, which contains sodium hypochlorite, is highly dangerous and can be fatal when consumed by an individual. It is a corrosive chemical that causes severe damage to the body’s tissues.
The ingestion may cause burns to the mouth and throat, gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Recently, the feud between social media personalities Martins Vincent Otse, popularly called VeryDarkMan, and Mitchell Mukoro, widely known as King Mitchy, assumed a different turn when the duo consumed the liquid substance in viral videos.
Bleach contains sodium hypochlorite and may also contain perfumes, surfactants, and stabilizers.
Different brands of bleach products may contain various concentrations of sodium hypochlorite.
Sodium hypochlorite itself may be toxic if ingested, or by dermal or ocular exposure. If mixed with acidic solutions, chlorine gas is produced, and mixing with ammonia-based solutions gives rise to chloramine solution, both of which contribute to toxic effects.
Sodium hypochlorite breaks down over time, especially when it is stored at higher temperatures or exposed to sunlight. Because of this, it’s important to store bleach as directed on the product label.
Symptoms
- Burning and pain in the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach.
- Nausea, vomiting (sometimes bloody), and diarrhea.
- Abdominal or chest pain.
- Drooling and difficulty swallowing or breathing due to throat swelling.
- Low blood pressure and a slow heartbeat, which can lead to shock or cardiovascular collapse.
- Coughing and respiratory problems if fumes are inhaled or the liquid is aspirated into the lungs, potentially leading to pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).
Long-Term Consequences
- Severe chemical burns and tissue damage to the mouth, throat, and gastrointestinal tract.
- Perforation (holes) in the esophagus or stomach, which can lead to serious infections and is a primary cause of death.
- Permanent scarring and narrowing (stricture formation) of the esophagus in survivors of severe intoxication.
- Kidney damage due to the breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis) in severe cases of massive exposure.
- Coma and death
