Clorox® Regular-Bleach is proven to be versatile as a disinfectant and a powerful cleaner in your home. In fact, it's so powerful that it is often perceived that bleach is harmful for the environment. But the fact is that bleach starts as salt and water and ends as salt and water. The end product contains no free chlorine, and it quickly breaks down into essentially salt and water during or after use.
Q: Does Clorox® bleach contaminate groundwater?
A: No. Household use of bleach does not contaminate groundwater. Sodium hypochlorite is very reactive and, as a result, degrades rapidly and completely. It works promptly against stains and dirt and quickly breaks down primarily into salt and water. Household water is then directed to a septic tank, or sewage treatment plant.
Q: Does the use or manufacturing of household liquid bleach create dioxins?
A: No. Studies have shown that dioxins are not produced when sodium hypochlorite bleach is used in laundry or for household cleaning. The chemical building blocks for the formation of dioxins are not present in the household use of bleach.
Q: How, exactly, does bleach begin and end as common table salt?
A: The bleach cycle is actually surprisingly simple:
- First, chlorine manufacturers produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide by running an electric current through salt water.
- Clorox purchases chlorine and makes household bleach by bubbling it into a solution of water and sodium hydroxide. During this process, all of the chlorine is converted into a sodium hypochlorite solution.
- Household bleach is produced—a 6.0 percent solution of sodium hypochlorite and water.
- During use as a cleaner and disinfectant, and during disposal, about 95 percent to 98 percent of the bleach reacts and quickly breaks down into salt and water.
- The remaining 2 percent to 5 percent breaks down to form by-products that are effectively treated by municipal wastewater treatment plants or septic systems.
For more information about bleach visit www.factsaboutbleach.com.
