Number
118-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Manufacture of bulk, large scale chemicals (including petroleum products)
Manufacture of fine chemicals
Function
Cleaning agent
Process
Manual activities involving hand contact
Product category
washing ad cleaning products
Application
Diverse cleaning agents
Abstract
Suggestions from the Danish EPA to avoid the use of chlorine in private households
Substituted substances
Sodium hypochlorite
CAS No. 7681-52-9 EC No. 231-668-3 Index No. 017-011-00-1
Chemical group
Sodium compounds; hypochlorites
Classification: hazard statements
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
H318 Causes serious eye damage
H400 Very toxic to aquatic life
H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Alternative Substances
Sodium percarbonate
CAS No. 15630-89-4 EC No. 239-707-6 Index No.
Chemical group
Sodium compounds; peroxides
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Evidence of assessment: there is evidence of an official (positive) assessment of the substitution
Reason substitution
ecotoxicity
physical hazards
Other type of alternative
Boiling water
Hazard Assessment
Substances to be substituted: Sodium hypochlorite releases toxic gas in contact with acids, causes severe skin burns and serious eye damage and is very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.. Alternative substance: Sodium percarbonate has no official risk or hazard classification and is not included in the database of hazardous substances according to SUBSPORTplus screening criteria.
Description of Substitution
In Denmark the use of cleaning products containing chlorine was 4,000 tons in 2000. Chlorine in sewage and waste water can harm the water resources. The Environmental Protection Agency in Denmark therefore started a campaign to reduce the use of products containing chlorine in private households. Generally, EPA recommends the use of eco labelled products for cleaning of floors, tables, bathrooms, toilettes, dishwashing machines and washing machines. Sodium percarbonate is suggested as an alternative for bleaching clothes, cleaning refrigerators, deep freezers, dishwashing machines. Knives and other utensils used for handling poultry can be disinfected with boiling water instead of chlorine. In outdoor facilities sodium percarbonate is suggested as an alternative to chlorine for cleaning wood, bricks and tiles.
Case/substitution evaluation
Sodium percarbonate is an effective alternative to sodium hypochlorite and it is less harmful for the water resources.
State of implementation
Full capacity
Producer/Provider
Available
Type of information supplier
Authority
Further information
Danish EPA, Substances in household detergents, https://mst.dk/service/publikationer/publikationsarkiv/2019/apr/substances-in-household-detergents/
Type of publication and availability
Homepage in Danish
Publication source
Type of publication and availability
Date, reviewed
December 11, 2020