Drain Cleaner Hazards

Swallowing

• Swallowing drain cleaner doesn't have to involve drinking from the bottle, but it can be as simple as brushing your lips with a hand that has been splashed by cleaner. Drain cleaner can be fatal if swallowed, depending on the amount ingested and the age and size of the individual. Even a small amount of the chemical will cause swelling of the throat, vomiting, a sudden decrease in blood pressure and severe chemical burns in the soft tissues of the mouth, throat and stomach. The same characteristics that allow the chemical to clean tough clogs means that the chemical will coat the lining of the digestive tract and continue to burn for days afterward.