Do not mix bleach and toilet bowl cleaner: A custodian at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections accidentally created a toxic mixture of cleaning chemicals creating a hazmat situation

Paramedics respond after custodian accidentally mixes toxic cleaning chemicals

The custodian was preparing to clean a bathroom at the Wisc. Department of Corrections when she mixed bleach with ammonia

By EMS1 Staff
MADISON, Wis. — A custodian at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections accidentally created a toxic mixture of cleaning chemicals on Tuesday.
The Madison Fire Department responded to a report of a chemical spill at 5:30 pm, reported NBC 15 News. Paramedics were contacted when someone in the building reported difficulty breathing.

Officials said the custodian was preparing to clean a bathroom when she mixed lemon bleach and toilet bowl cleaner together. The combination is known to create chemicals that are toxic to humans, including hydrochloric acid and chlorine gas.

An incident report said the custodian poured the solution down the drain of a slop sink and left the building when she realized what happened.

She was evaluated by paramedics while firefighters examined the building for potential chemical hazards.

The rest of the corrections facility was never evacuated, and aside from a “slight odor of chlorine,” the department determined that the hazard had been controlled.

Chemicals produced from mixing bleach and ammonia

NH3 = ammonia
HCl = hydrochloric acid
NaOCl = sodium hypochlorite (bleach)
Cl = chlorine
Cl₂ = chlorine gas
NH₂Cl = chloramine
N₂H₄ = hydrazine
NaCl = sodium chloride or salt
H₂O = water

Source: http://chemistry.about.com/od/toxicchemicals/a/Mixing-Bleach-And-Ammonia.htm