Bleach

Household bleach contains a compound called sodium hypochlorite, which is the caustic agent that can cause burns. Most household bleach brands contain 6 percent or less of the compound, which means they have a pH that is nearly neutral. This reduces the risk of burns from exposure to bleach.

Dangers

Household bleach is unlikely to cause severe burns, even if swallowed. It irritates the mucus membranes of the nose, mouth and throat. It will cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if ingested. If these symptoms are left untreated, they can lead to dehydration.

Considerations

While accidental exposure or ingestion of household bleach will cause discomfort and sickness, deliberate ingestion can lead to more serious injury. Granular bleach and industrial bleach, like that used for bleaching or cleaning swimming pools, contains much higher concentrations of caustic agents and are more dangerous.