HYDERABAD: A recent survey by the Indian Medical Association reveals that cleaning toilets with acids can damage lungs. Around 91 per cent of the doctors who participated in the survey have confirmed that the acids which are used as toilet cleaners are a major cause of respiratory diseases like Asthma.
One might question as to how acids can damage lungs? “The fumes which are created while cleaning the toilet are left in the room for sometime and it is very possible for people to inhale them. This triggers respiratory problems and sometimes death when an Asthmatic patient is exposed to the fumes for a long time,” consultant pulmonologist of KIMS Dr VV Ramana explained.
The survey observed the toilet cleaning habits in six major cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Hyderabad.
It found that acid is the most common material used for cleaning domestic toilets in urban India. Around 65 percent of 450 families from Hyderabad who admitted to use of acid in cleaning toilets.
“People in India are oblivious to health hazards of acid usage. The basic idea of conducting the survey was to emphasise and its severe health implications,” Dr Ramana said.
Cheap prices is the major reason that is encouraging more people to choose acid over other toilet cleaners that are available in the market, senior consultant of the Indian Medical Academy Dr Preetaish Kaul said and added that 80 per cent people do not take safety precautions like using gloves while using acid.
The Indian Medical Academy expressed its concern over the widespread supply of acid in the market. Dr Preetaish demanded the government to enforce strict rules to control the supply of acid to reduce its usage.
“This will help in reduction of acid attacks,” he added and urged the health department to conduct programmes to create awareness about the dangers involved in the usage of acid.