Parents often use bleach heavily in the hope that the chemical will disinfect surfaces from bacteria that can lead to illnesses within their family and especially among their children.
However, according to a study, while bleach kills germs, it may make children more vulnerable to flu, tonsillitis and other infections.
The research was able to find a connection between the usage of bleach within the home and the number of infections, particularly respiratory ones. The conclusion was that the passive exposure to the chemical led to a 20 percent rise in chances of getting the flu last year.
A 35 percent increase in the risk of recurrent tonsillitis has also been connected to the chemical, which has made experts tag the usage of bleach in homes a public health concern.
The study analyzed the impact of bleach exposure to over 9,000 children who were six years old to 12 years old in Barcelona, Finland and the Netherlands.
The parents of the children completed a questionnaire regarding the infections that the children acquired over the past year. They also provided information on the amount of bleach that the parents use for cleaning their homes within a week.
The study found that the usage of bleach was common within Spain at 72 percent, but rare in Finland at only 7 percent. It was also found that schools in Spain were being cleaned using bleach, while those in Finland were not.
The results showed that infections increased and became more frequent among children whose parents often use bleach to clean their homes, across all the three countries.
In addition to the statistical significance of the higher cases of flu and tonsillitis, recurrent infection risk was higher by 18 percent.
A possible cause for such a connection was the irritant properties of the compounds generated when using bleach for cleaning. The linings of the cells of the lung could be damaged, which could lead to inflammation that opens the chance for infections among children.
According to study author Dr. Lidia Casas from Belgium's Centre for Environment and Health, the findings of the study was concerning due to the prevailing use of bleach to clean homes despite the underlying negative effect.
The increased risk to respiratory infections and other diseases caused by the passive exposure to the chemical is a "public health concern."
According to Casas, the exposure to bleach may also suppress the body's immune system. However, more detailed research is required to further outline the negative effects of bleach on children's health.
Photo: Joe Loong | Flickr
