Is Pine SOL Poisonous? Here Is What Our Research Found

Pine SOL is a great cleaning agent and disinfectant. However, there is always a doubt surrounding its effect on our health. Today we will tackle this doubt head-on and find out if Pine SOL is Poisonous.

It depends on the type

A little known fact is that the main component of Pine SOL hasn’t always been the same. Its name might suggest that it is made from pine oil and it was true up until a few years ago. However, modern Pine SOL does not have pine oil in most cases. Pine oil is what causes the health issues and that is why it was discontinued. You can still get Pine SOL with pine oil in it but this is only available online and it is this Pine SOL that carries the highest possibility of adverse health effects. Regular Pine SOL these days uses glycolic acid as its main component which is relatively a lot safer. We will take a look at the specific risks both these carry.

Possible health risks of pine oil

Pine oil while being lethal to germs can be dangerous to humans as well if ingested in large quantities. Pine SOL that is advertised to have pine oil but available in stores uses pine oil only for fragrance and this is usually too little to cause any major issues. It can still induce vomiting and nausea in some cases.

The online variant contains 8.25% pine oil and this is a bit more dangerous. If this is accidentally ingested or somehow gets into your bloodstream then it can cause severe nausea, difficulty breathing, burning sensation in throat and eyes, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat. The best remedy is to seek emergency medical help after property washing any area that got splashed with this type of Pine SOL.

Possible health risks of glycolic acid

Glycolic acid is also a good disinfectant while being a lot more agreeable to humans and our well being. Most people won’t have any noticeable reaction to modern Pine SOL containing glycolic acid if it comes in contact with skin. In rarer cases, it can cause skin irritation. It is also quite safe in case you accidentally ingest it. Seek medical help if you start to experience an allergic reaction. Never use any cleaning or disinfecting agent carelessly and you should be fine.

Should you look for alternatives?

As long as you take basic precautions like wearing gloves and use Pine SOL in a properly ventilated area, it should not cause any issues. Modern Pine SOL is safe and even its pine oil containing variant is only dangerous in copious amounts. However, if you still don’t feel comfortable using Pine SOL, there are plenty of natural alternatives that are great disinfectants and easy to prepare at home. You can read about them here . Approach your cleaning in steps and be very clear of what you want to do. This way, you can avoid accidents. It is always better to avoid any risks even though modern Pine SOL is quite safe.