Peeing should not become life-threatening

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

So the cleaning guy was late to work...again. So I guess he had to cut corners on the normal shoddy cleaning job he does.

His idea of cleaning the bathroom today was to mix way too much bleach with some water and mop the floors and clean the toilets and urinals with it. When I went in there to pay the water bill, my eyes started watering and I started to get a headache, the chlorine smell in there was so strong. So I did my business and left without washing my hands, lest I pass out in there.

Yeah, I told the manager about that. As if it will do any good.

[tollbaby]

urine is largely composed of ammonia.... ammonia + bleach = toxic gas cloud.

[Shironu-Akaineko]

I'm picturing you doing the same face as your Calvin avatar while peeing.

HI-larious!

[Becks]

"Feel those brain cells fry!!!"

[LonelyStr8manInSF]

Actually, urine contains urea, which is a derivative of ammonia, but far far far less poisonous. Our bodies cannot hold ammonia, as it would kill us. When protein is used for fuel, the nitrogen is only briefly kept in the form ammonia before being converted to urea. Only fish and other sea creatures turn digested protein into ammonia, because they can immediately purge it into the surrounding water. Birds and insects turn digested protein into uric acid (the thick white stuff).

[Greenday]

Anyone ever smell pure Ammonia? Every time I use it in lab, I'm sick for the rest of the day. I'd much rather smell Chlorine over Ammonia.

[Broomjockey]

Anyone ever smell pure Ammonia? Every time I use it in lab, I'm sick for the rest of the day. I'd much rather smell Chlorine over Ammonia.

In Chem 20 the teacher passed around a batch of freshly created stuff. I gotta say, I wasn't that impressed. Couldn't smell much even with my nose in the beaker.

As for ammonia vs. urea, wouldn't it still give the same effect when mixed with chlorine, just not to the same degree (which is probably what stopped people from getting really sick)?