TWO out of five Americans have engaged in inappropriate use of bleach during the coronavirus crisis, according to a new study released on Fri by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The agency said it undertook a survey about what people were using bleach for after an unusual spike in poison control centre calls in Apr.
The weekly CDC Morbidity and Mortality Report found that 60% of people overall were doing more cleaning and disinfecting amid the pandemic.
That's good news, but the CDC said it was particularly alarmed at a spike in practices that it considers to be high risk, including washing fruits, vegetables and other foods in bleach solutions.
18% of respondents admitted to using household cleaners - rather than soap - to wash their hands and/or other body parts, while 10% said they had "misted themselves" with cleaning products and disinfectants after being out in public.
And it gets worse - about 6% admitted to inhaling bleach vapour, while 4% had "drank or gargled" a household cleaner, diluted bleach solution or soapy water in attempts to avoid coronavirus infection.
The CDC said the results highlighted significant US knowledge gaps about hygiene.
Unsurprisingly a quarter of respondents also reported negative side effects from exposure to cleaning products, such as skin irritation, nausea, dizziness and breathing issues.
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