The results of a newly-published survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control suggest that 39 percent of Americans are using bleach and other high-risk cleaners in improper ways in order to prevent getting infected with the novel coronavirus.
It turns out some people intentionally gargle bleach or inhale disinfectant fumes in order to prevent Covid-19! Sixty percent of respondents said they were doing more cleaning and disinfecting, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and 39 percent admitted to doing at least one cleaning practice considered high-risk by the CDC. Some of the alarming results:
- 19% of respondents admitted to washing fruits, vegetables, and other foods in bleach solutions
- 18% said they washed with toxic cleaners instead of soap
- 10% said that they misted themselves with bleach and other disinfectants.
The most concerning findings were that 6 percent of respondents said they intentionally inhaled the fumes of household cleaners, like bleach, and 4 percent of people admitted to gargling bleach or soap solutions and household cleaners. So it comes as no surprise that 25 percent of respondents also reported health symptoms like dizziness, skin irritation, nausea, and breathing problems after being exposed to cleaning agents. Despite these concerning findings and overall poor results, 82 percent said that they strongly agreed or somewhat agreed with the statement that they knew how to clean and disinfect their home safely.