Are you aware of the dangers of smoke and soot inhalation? Let’s discuss them in detail.
Household fires in the US are very common. Fires can have a devastating effect on your home. When it comes to fire damage, smoke causes the biggest amount of damage. Soot and smoke are a result of incomplete combustion of cloth, wood and plastic. You may not know this, but regardless of its source, smoke contains a variety of carcinogens (cancer-producing substances), which can cause health complications.
What Are Soot and Smoke?
Smoke is a mixture of fine particles and gases. It can contain very harmful pollutants, like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, as well as water vapor and carbon dioxide. The fine particles in smoke can affect your health in various ways, which we will discuss below.
Soot, on the other hand, contains tiny particles of materials that are not burned properly. These materials include fuel, coal, wood, and plastic. Soot also contains acids, dust and chemicals. The diameter of a soot particle is 2.5 micrometer, which is far smaller than dust particles and mold spores. What is dangerous about soot is its toxic composition, which usually occurs after incomplete burning of plastic and foam. Soot is so small that it can be easily inhaled, affecting your lungs with 11 dangerous carcinogens.
The Harmful Effects of Smoke Exposure
The harmful chemicals found in smoke residue can be ingested and even absorbed through our skin. The individuals who have the highest likelihood of falling prey to third-hand smoke are small children, who have a habit of putting their hands in their mouths. However, third-hand smoke has a huge impact on the quality of air and can affect everyone else as well, especially vulnerable individuals with weaker immune systems. Being exposed to third-hand smoke can lead to shortness of breath, asthma, pneumonia, weakened immune systems, and respiratory issues. These symptoms can last for a long time and can cause long term effects.
The Dangers of Soot Exposure
Just like smoke, soot also contaminates the quality of indoor air. Soot can quickly become airborne because of the small size of its particles. Soot often contains nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides. These two components are also found in acid rain. If ingested, soot can lead to a variety of adverse health conditions like shortness of breath, asthma, bronchitis, coronary heart disease, and even cancer. In the case of infants, soot exposure can result in a lifetime of chronic respiratory problems.
If you have recently experienced a fire on your property, make sure to call professionals for proper cleaning. Proper cleaning will protect you from the dangers of smoke and soot that we have discussed in the paragraphs above.
