Bleach as a disinfectant in schools

I sell chemicals to many entities, including schools (all levels).  Often times I hear the "Old School" philosophy that bleach is the best product out there for disinfecting.  However, recently I spoke with a superintendent, who specifically forbids the use of bleach, due to an event in which, several children had to be sent home with asthma attacks after its use.  The bathroom floors had been mopped, and the urinals, sinks and toilets had all been cleaned with bleach the night before.  Does anyone have any info on what negative health affects bleach poses?  I also would like to know what specific disease causing germs, or micro-organisms bleach is capable of killing vs a professional disinfectant.

[caregiver222]

"Five percent" bleach is the military standard for biological decontamination. That is not to say that stronger solutions are not entirely inappropriate. A manufacturer of hospital supplies incorrectly states "ten percent", and many people are under this misconception. If five percent bleach is used and the area is well ventilated, there is no reason not to use it. Bleach is dangerous around the very elderly. When I cared for elderly stroke-damaged individuals I forbid ANY bleach to be stored in their rooms or in an adjacent bathroom. Or used in their room or the adjacent bathroom. I only permitted small bottles to be kept in the house. Bleach causes destruction of lung tissue and pneumonia in high concentrations. Bleach, according to military NBC doctrine, is capable of killing all military biological bacterial threats.

[caregiver222]

There has been one fatality involving use of beach I am personally aware of, over thirty years ago. A 55 year female asthmatic was given asthmatic treatment and placed in a holding room on a guerney at about 3 A.M.  The room had a closed window and the door automatically closed. The brain-dead hospital porter came in and swabbed the floor with bleach. The concentration used was not determined, and the time it took to discover her were in question, but the fumes were so bad, she couldn't be worked in the room. Eventually someone went to check on her.  She went into respiratory arrest and after being worked for an hour was pronounced. The case went to the ME who determined the inappropriate use of bleach was the cause of death.