April 23, 2023
Going swimming in a chlorinated pool? You may want to consider inhaling thyme essential oil. Sodium hypochlorite (used to purify pools) can wreak havoc on the skin, lungs, and eyes. Inhaling thyme essential oil reduced the harmful effects of sodium hypochlorite on the lungs in a preclinical model. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is a chemical compound composed of sodium, oxygen, and chlorine. It is used in the food industry, health care, purification of drinking water, endodontic treatment, disinfection, and bleaching. It was used at 3–5% concentration in household disinfectants (bleach), 0.5–10% in endodontic treatment, and 10–25% in fabric bleaching. Household disinfectants are especially easy to access and widely used. Due to its strong oxidizing properties, sodium hypochlorite can cause significant risks from long-term exposure. Sodium hypochlorite inhalation exposure is common in households and industry due to using as a disinfectant.