Does sodium hydroxide cause cancer?

Does sodium hydroxide cause cancer?

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the EPA have not classified sodium hydroxide for carcinogenicity in humans.

What does sodium hydroxide do to the body?

Sodium hydroxide is a potentially dangerous substance. It can hurt you if it touches your skin, if you drink it or if you breathe it. Eating or drinking sodium hydroxide can cause severe burns and immediate vomiting, nausea, diarrhea or chest and stomach pain, as well as swallowing difficulties.

Why is sodium hydroxide harmful?

Health Effects Sodium hydroxide is strongly irritating and corrosive. It can cause severe burns and permanent damage to any tissue that it comes in contact with. Sodium hydroxide can cause hydrolysis of proteins, and hence can cause burns in the eyes which may lead to permanent eye damage.

Is sodium hydroxide bad for babies?

The irritant/corrosive tends to occur at the point of contact e.g. irritation to the skin or eyes. The absorption of alkali compounds into the body is generally low and therefore they do not cause effects in other parts of the body. Therefore, sodium hydroxide is unlikely to have a direct effect on the unborn child.

What is the chemical reaction of sodium hydroxide?

Chemical properties Sodium hydroxide is completely ionic, containing sodium ions and hydroxide ions. The hydroxide ion makes sodium hydroxide a strong base which reacts with acids to form water and the corresponding salts, e.g., with hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride is formed: NaOH( aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O( l)

Is sodium hydroxide fatal?

Sodium hydroxide is corrosive to all body tissues; concentrated vapors cause serious damage to the eyes and respiratory system. Ingestion of sodium hydroxide, which occurs frequently in children, can cause severe necrosis, with stricture of the esophagus and death.

What can lye be used for?

Uses of Caustic Soda or Lye Lye is used for soap making, candle making, homemade biodiesel, frosting glass, making several foods, and for chemistry experiments.

Is sodium hydroxide a hazardous material?

Neutralize water spills with a dilute acid. Sodium Hydroxide is hazardous to the environment, especially water organisms.

Is sodium hydroxide the same as bleach?

Sodium hypochlorite Sodium hypochlorite is chlorine gas dissolved in sodium hydroxide. This is essentially household bleach. If hypochlorite is exposed to acid, chlorine gas will be released.

Is there a link between sodium hydroxide and cancer?

EPA have not classified sodium hydroxide for carcinogenicity in humans. Some reports indicate that cancer of the esophagus may develop many years after exposure to sodium hydroxide levels that are high enough to cause tissue damage. But this does not mean that sodium hydroxide itself is a cancer agent.

What happens if you inhale sodium hydroxide?

Inhaling Sodium Hydroxide can irritate the lungs. Higher exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency.  Repeated exposure can lead to permanent lung damage. Sodium Hydroxide in contact with water or moisture may generate enough heat to ignite combustibles.

What are the uses of sodium hydroxide in soap?

Sodium hydroxide is used to manufacture soaps and a variety of detergents used in homes and commercial applications. Chlorine bleach is produced by combining chlorine and sodium hydroxide. Drain cleaners that contain sodium hydroxide convert fats and grease that can clog pipes into soap , which dissolves in water.

How is sodium hydroxide used in everyday life?

Sodium hydroxide is used to manufacture many everyday products, such as paper, aluminum, commercial drain and oven cleaners, and soap and detergents. Sodium Hydroxide in Cleaning & Disinfectant Products Sodium hydroxide is used to manufacture soaps and a variety of detergents used in homes and commercial applications.