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They contain either hydrochloric acid, usually at a concentration of approx. 10%, or granular sodium disulphate, the concentration of which can exceed even 70%, which means that their pH is lower than 1-2.
Contrary to bleach and ammonia, the consumption of certain toilet bowl cleaners poses a risk of serious irritation or even burns to the mucous membranes, mainly the stomach.
Accidental consumption of these substances by children occurs most often when adults, busy cleaning the toilet, do not pay attention to their children. It is imperative to take the remnants of the granules out of your child’s mouth and dilute them immediately with milk or water. About 30% of poisonings are treated in hospital, and fatalities are rare, unless the use of acidic toilet cleaners was for suicidal reasons.
Agents which, for convenience and to avoid direct contact, are placed in a water reservoir giving a permanent cleaning effect, may include calcium hypochlorite, detergents and quaternary ammonia components which have bleaching, cleaning and disinfecting properties. Placing them in the tank makes them easily accessible to curious children and most poisoning occurs as a result of drinking water from the toilet bowls. Due to the low concentration of the toxic substance, these poisoning are not dangerous.
Read also: Poisoning