Health Risks Associated with Smoke & Soot Exposure

In the usual sense, smoke is obviously hazardous. But smoke and soot can be even more dangerous than you realize. Tiny, carcinogenic particles are present throughout a space after the fire is extinguished. They settle on walls, furniture, and other surfaces and contents.

• Smoke particles result from waste products like solids, liquids, and gases, which may be composed of various chemicals that are harmful to your health.
• What makes it more threatening is these particles can easily get into human contact through skin and eyes, inhalation, and ingestion.
• Moreover, soot particles are invisible and can cause several critical health issues by entering the bloodstream.

Effects of Smoke & Soot Exposure

Lingering smoke and soot particles negatively impact health. Long-term, or sometimes short-term, exposure leads to these health hazards:

• Respiratory issues: When soot particles are breathed in, it directly affects the lungs. Prolonged exposure causes extensive respiratory problems like asthma, coughing, and bronchitis.
• Skin or eye irritation: Eye irritation, redness, itching, and watery eyes can be caused by smoke and soot. Direct contact with soot particles can also cause skin irritation, resulting in rashes, itching, and dryness.
• Cancer or other serious health risks: Prolonged exposure to high levels of soot particles has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer and other respiratory cancers.