Latest news with #bleach
WIRED
a day ago
- Health
- WIRED
The Bleach Community Is Ready for RFK Jr. To Make Their Dreams Come True
In the months since US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentioned chlorine dioxide during his Senate confirmation hearing, the online community advocating for the use of the toxic bleach solution as a cure for everything from malaria to autism has become emboldened. Activity on bleach-supporting social media groups is exploding, and influencers are reemerging in an effort to push Donald Trump's administration to approve bleach as a mainstream treatment. 'We are thrilled that RFK Jr is in charge,' Michelle Herman, who sells a nasal spray containing chlorine dioxide and says she's discussed the topic with Kennedy, tells WIRED. She was pictured, along with other bleach enthusiasts and activists, at the recent Truth Seekers conference held at president Donald Trump's Doral resort in Florida. Chlorine dioxide is sold under a variety of names, including Miracle Mineral Solution, Chlorine Dioxide Solution, Water Purification Solution, and God's Detox. Whatever name it goes by, it has been promoted as a cure for a wide array of ailments since the mid-1990s, and despite prosecutions and warnings from authorities, it continues to be popular in many parts of the world. It has been peddled as a 'cure' for everything from malaria to cancer, from HIV to autism to COVID-19. (There is no credible evidence to back up any of the claims that chlorine dioxide can cure any of these ailments.) While Kennedy has a long history of promoting anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, he has not explicitly promoted chlorine dioxide as a treatment. However, in January, during his Senate confirmation hearing, he referenced chlorine dioxide while praising Trump for 'looking at all of the different remedies' for COVID, using it as an example of the open-mindedness that Kennedy characterized as a 'demonstration of leadership.' Since Kennedy mentioned chlorine dioxide, groups dedicated to chlorine dioxide use on platforms like Telegram and Facebook are filled with new members and increased activity. (Telegram did not respond to a request for comment; Meta said it was reviewing the groups WIRED flagged and would remove any it determines violate the company's policies.) Activists who have spent years fighting to highlight the dangers of chlorine dioxide are now deeply concerned that the Trump administration could seek to approve its use as a cure for a wide variety of ills. 'The bleachers are back, making connections with powerful people, reaching RFK and Trump,' says Fiona O'Leary, an Ireland-based activist who has autistic children and has spent years trying to highlight the dangers of toxic bleach solutions being sold as an autism cure. 'Bleachers want RFK to approve chlorine dioxide as a treatment for autism, cancer, and other conditions. It is like watching a horror show.'
The Independent
02-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Children left seriously ill after parents follow influencer's advice to ‘cure' autism with bleach
A social media influencer is promoting industrial bleach as a false ' autism cure', despite health warnings and reports from parents that their children have become seriously ill after following her advice. Kerri Rivera, who has more than 17,000 followers on Instagram, encourages parents to give their autistic children chlorine dioxide (CD) — a potentially lethal chemical used to bleach textiles and disinfect industrial surfaces. Experts have called her fake cures 'sickening', adding it is 'wrong, dangerous and harmful to autistic people and their families '. Messages seen by The Independent from Ms Rivera's private support group reveal parents reporting vomiting, rashes, seizures and chemical-smelling urine in their children after following her advice. One parent wrote: 'I have noticed a high ammonia-smelling urine in my daughter's pull ups... I imagine these are the parasites dying and leaving behind their toxins. Is this a good sign to be smelling this?' Ms Rivera, who falsely claims that autism is caused by 'parasites' and 'worms', routinely reassures parents that these are signs the treatment is working. She refers to symptoms like vomiting and hives as evidence the body is 'detoxifying'. Her Instagram account states 'autism is treatable' – a categorically false claim. Ms Rivera's Instagram account has more than 17,000 followers, while her TikTok has attracted over 3,000. Both profiles remain active and continue to promote her claims. Her Amazon storefront previously sold books and equipment promoting these false claims, but the page was removed following a petition led by campaigners. The Independent has approached Meta and TikTok for comment. Autism is a lifelong neurological condition. There is no evidence it can be acquired, and an autistic person cannot become non-autistic. It is not caused by viruses or parasites, and there is no cure. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warns the ingestion of CD can cause immediate pain with burning in the mouth, throat, and stomach, as well as abdominal pain, vomiting blood and shortness of breath. In serious cases, it can cause hemorrhagic or hypovolemic shock which occurs when the body's blood volume is depleted and leads to insufficient blood flow and oxygen to the organs. In children, it can strip their bowel lining, cause pink urine and green stools, and some may experience seizures. Despite these dangers, Ms Rivera continues to promote the so-called CD 'protocol' online and gives guidance on how to respond when children fall ill. Tim Nicholls, Assistant Director of Policy, Research and Strategy at the National Autistic Society (NAS), said: 'It is sickening that this so-called 'protocol guide' for parents of autistic children claims to treat or cure autism. This information is wrong, dangerous and harmful to autistic people and their families, and to our charity. 'No autistic person, parent or carer should be told to 'cure' their child by administering a dangerous, potentially life-threatening chemical. Autism is a lifelong neurodivergence and disability, it is not a disease that can be 'treated' or 'cured'. Non-scientific and false claims that appear on social media platforms and across mainstream media need to be challenged and reported to enforcement agencies.' The NAS encourages people to report any products or procedures claiming to treat or cure autism to the Food Standards Agency. Jolanta Lasota, Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, reiterated the warnings on CD. 'Fake cures peddled online can be incredibly dangerous to the health of autistic children and young people,' she said. 'Anyone claiming they have the means to cure autism is spreading false and harmful misinformation.' Ms Lasota urged parents to get their information from trusted sources like the NHS and 'remain vigilant of these online scams'.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Three savvy ways to keep cleaning costs down and get your home spick and span
CLEANING is a chore but don't let it weigh heavy on your pocket too. You don't need to buy fancy products to get a sparkling pad. 7 Here's how you can keep costs down and get your home spick and span… TIDY DEAL: Pricey specialised solutions make plenty of promises for a sparkling home, but the reality is that you can create your own sprays for a snip of the price. You don't need separate sprays for different rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen. Just keep old spray bottles and refill with water and a few drops of washing up liquid to clean sides and spaces that need a light clean. For areas that need deeper sanitising, such as sinks and toilets, mix ten parts water with one part bleach in a spray bottle. You can buy supermarket own-label bleach for under £1. Glass and mirrors can be cleaned with water with a few added drops of lemon juice and white vinegar. Spray and wipe with a microfibre cloth. TOUGH LOVE: Even for tougher grime and deep cleaning, you rarely need to buy ready-made products. On limescale, lemon juice will work wonders. I tried Zoflora's new carpet cleaner - it works in just 30 seconds and leaves your home smelling super fresh (1) Squeeze juice from the fruit on to the build up and let it sit for at least an hour, which should help to dissolve the residue. Black mould can look unsightly and special cleaners are pricey. Bleach effectively kills the growth, just spray or wipe surfaces. You can help remove it from silicon by soaking cotton wool in bleach and popping on sealants, then leave overnight. SCRAP THE SPONGE: Lose disposable sponges which need constant replacing. Instead try giving ruined clothing a second use and cut up as rags to use for wiping. You can also use crumpled aluminium foil for scrubbing when dealing with ingrained grime on dishes. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability Deal of the day GET ready to jet away with this large IT soft suitcase, in sage. It's down from £70 to £56 at Matalan. Cheap treat ORDER a coffee and cookie for collection on the KFC app for £1.99 until June 9, saving you £1.49 What's new? KEEP your feet comfy when out and about with these Crivit trainers in Lidl from today, £12.99, or £11.69 for Lidl Plus members. Top swap KIT out your garden with a pack of two chairs, £126.95 from Sklum. Or head to Aldi this week and get a similar style chair, in green or plum, at £24.99 each. Shop & save PROTECT your skin and boost moisture with Biovene anti-aging SPF50 sun cream, 30ml, down from £12.95 to £2.75 at Home Bargains. SAVE: £10.20 Hot right now STOCK up on couple of extra games and toys for half term with two for £12 on a range of items to keep little ones occupied at The Works. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
