Drainpipe cleaners are chemicals used to clean drainpipes. Drainpipe cleaner poisoning occurs when someone swallows or breathes in (inhales) a drainpipe cleaner.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

• Hydrochloric acid
• Lye (sodium hydroxide or caustic soda)
• Potassium hydroxide
• Sulfuric acid

• Some aquarium products
• Some drain cleaners

Note: This list may not include all sources of drainpipe cleaners.

• Airways and lungs
  • Breathing difficulty (from breathing in drainpipe cleaner)
  • Throat swelling (may also cause breathing difficulty)
• Blood
  • Severe change in acid level of blood (pH balance), which leads to damage in all of the body organs
• Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • Loss of vision
  • Severe pain in the throat
  • Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue
• Gastrointestinal
  • Blood in the stool
  • Burns and possible holes (perforation) in the food pipe (esophagus)
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Vomiting blood
• Heart and blood
  • Collapse
  • Low blood pressure that develops rapidly
• Skin
  • Burns
  • Holes (necrosis) in the skin or tissues underneath
  • Irritation