Smoke released during a fire is a combination of chemicals and particles that are produced due to the incomplete burning of materials containing carbon. All smoke consists of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter also known as soot. All three are known to cause different health problems. In such a situation, it becomes quite important to hire a firm that provides fire and smoke damage restoration in Exton, PA so that further damage to your property and to your health can be avoided.
Health Problems Arising Due to Smoke
Smoke is known to contain a variety of chemicals such as:
- Sulfur Dioxide, Aldehydes, Nitrogen Oxides
- Acid Gases & Metals
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
- Styrene, Dioxins, Toluene, Benezene
Smoke – A Mix of Soot, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, and Chemicals
In addition, the amount and the type of chemicals and particles in smoke differ depending upon other factors such as:
- Available oxygen
- What type of material is burning
- Temperature of the fire
Risks From Exposure to Smoke
If someone inhales smoke, it can cause many different side effects such as nausea and irritation of the nose, eyes, and throat. The main agents present in smoke that result in different health problems are very fine particles and carbon monoxide.
The fine particles are about 2.5 microns or even smaller in size (you can get an idea of how small they are from the fact that 25,400 microns is equivalent to an inch). The individual particles are so small that you cannot see them with the naked eye.
Risks Arising From Carbon Monoxide Inhalation
According to DOH, carbon monoxide reduces oxygen supply in the body and may result in reduced alertness, headaches, and a worsened heart condition called angina.
It’s a concerning fact that every year about 500 people die in the US due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Since people cannot taste, smell, or see it, they are affected without warning.
Some of the common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, and nausea, often mistaken to be symptoms of the flu and thus not given the required medical attention soon enough, which further aggravates the situation.
Risks Arising Due to Fine Particles
Fine particles can easily move through the respiratory tract and reach the lungs. Thus, inhaling such fine articles can result in many different health problems such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Respiratory irritation
- Worsening of medical conditions like asthma
Looking at the above negative health factors resulting from exposure to smoke, it’s clear that it’s important to hire a professional firm for fire and smoke damage restoration in Exton, PA immediately after the fire is extinguished.
We at ServiceMaster Professional Cleaning and Restoration have several years of experience in such fire restoration tasks and can handle restoration work of any scale.
You can get in touch with us at 610-524-8003 as soon as the fire is doused and we will send a team of expert restorers to analyze the situation and develop a plan of action to carry out restoration work.