Clorox Bleach "causes cataracts"

BlueWave8 · May 8, 2011

I assisted my PB with my new equipment install today. He saw all the empty bottles of Clorox in my garage and asked if thats what I used in the pool. When I said yes he told me that he strongly recommended against using bleach. When I asked him why he said that "bleach causes cataracts, and it'll eat the copper pipes for your heater way faster." He then proceeded to pour 2 gallons of Pool Shock (12% sodium hypochlorite into the pool). When I pointed out that was exactly what was in Clorox he said "No, Clorox has a bunch of added whitening agents that mess things up."

I just couldn't make a believer out of him...

Has anyone else heard the myth about cataracts?!

kplaster · May 8, 2011

LOL...Love that one..I just love the look on peoples faces when I tell them I use Bleach in my pool..Then after I explain they are wow you do have a point then I tell them to do there on study and to check out the website&decide on there on..

duraleigh · May 8, 2011

I do not know about the cataracts but I know for a fact that Clorox tends to make pool owners very handsome (or beautiful).

The effect is almost immediate and seems to last until you start using baquacil!! :shock:

Excess use of Tri-chlor pucks seems to buffer the handsome/beautiful effect.
If you bump in to a Clorox-using pool owner and cannot plainly see this effect.....well, I guess it is possible you have cataracts!! :hammer:

frustratedpoolmom · May 8, 2011

LOL DAVE!

jasonknox · May 8, 2011

I told my Aunt I used bleach to keep my pool sanitized and she almost freaked out. She said none of her grandchildren were going to swim in a pool that had bleach in it. Yet another advantage to Bleach? I have since converted to 10-1/2 percent Hypo from Pinch a Penny. I am sure she would be OK with that because it came from a pool store. I have not told her because I like the privacy.

chem geek · May 8, 2011

You can see the ingredients of bleach and other products we use in this post. Perhaps you can print out the Clorox bulletin, the EPA registration from the PAN Database, and refer to the ingredients to help educate this PB. Also, find out where he got this misinformation.

jasonknox · May 8, 2011

I think PB are like pediatricians. They prey on a persons inexperience!!!!! The problem is that on child number 2 you know how to deal with issues.

JamesW · May 8, 2011

Concentrated bleach can cause eye damage as can any form of concentrated chlorine. Once bleach is dissolved and distributed in the water, it creates the exact same chlorine as any other form of chlorine.

Industrial Bleach 6%
:
Eye Contact: Corrosive to eye tissue and may cause severe damage and blindness. This product causes corneal scarring and clouding. Glaucoma. Cataracts.
http://www.chem-wipe.com/msds2010/Indus ... 20MSDS.pdf

In severe exposure cases, glaucoma, cataracts and permanent blindness may occur.
http://www.poolsure.com/msds/Bleach-FL.pdf

For trichlor:

Eye Contact: Severe irritation and/or burns can occur following eye exposure. Contact may cause impairment of vision and corneal damage.
http://www.vantagewatercare.com/MSDS%20 ... 08_009.pdf

For calcium hypochlorite:

Extremely corrosive! This product causes corneal scarring and clouding. Glaucoma, cataracts and permanent blindness may occur.
http://www.oasisleisure.ca/commercial/M ... _SOLID.pdf

JasonLion · May 9, 2011

Likewise, if you drain the heater and then fill it up with bleach straight from the bottle it ought to "eat" the copper pipes fairly well.