We hear a lot about how smoke damage from house fires affects the contents of a home but there isn’t much talk about the terrible affect smoke damage has on the health of the house dwellers.
Smoke leaves its mark on the house with black stains and terrible smells. And the burning causes many toxins to travel through the space of the house, which often remains there and takes a toll on the health of the people and pets that live in the house.
Health risks most commonly connected to smoke damage are:
Asthma – soot and smoke may aggravate asthma and people who have asthma are at risk of permanent lung damage if exposed to the harmful after-effects of smoke.
Emphysema – a lung condition that causes shortness of breath. It occurs in people who live or work in contaminated environments, for example, smoke damage.
Chronic Bronchitis – an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes.
Eye irritation – smoke and soot can cause itchy, red, watery eyes.
Skin problems – smoke and soot can irritate your skin and cause damage. Sometimes this becomes so severe that it requires medical attention.
Heart attack – people with heart disease might experience chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, or fatigue.
Cancer
Some toxic materials that are found in smoke and soot during fire restoration:
- Asbestos fibers from building materials used in the 1950s-1980s.
- Carbon materials can produce carbon monoxide, hydrogen, ammonia, nitrogen oxides, and tar.
- PVC may create hydrogen chloride, phosgene, dioxin, chloromethane, Bromomethane, and halocarbons.
- Sulfur can form hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and thiols that can cause residual smoke odor.
- Partial oxidation of released hydrocarbons can yield formaldehyde, acrolein, furfural, ketones, alcohols, phenols, cresols, carboxylic acids.
- Wood smoke releases more than 100 dangerous chemicals.
Smoke Damage Cleanup
If your house has suffered a fire it is extremely important to get a reputable professional fire damage restoration company to clean it and restore it for you.
Once the fire is out the smoke and soot linger in the house. You will see the soot on the walls and smell the pungent smell of the smoke the moment you get close to the house.
But, the extent of this smoke damage is not always visible as there are many harmful toxins in the air and all around the house. This damage can linger in your home for years if it is not taken care of by a professional smoke damage restoration company.
It is important to leave this job to professionals who use all the proper safety equipment and know how to get the job done quickly and safely, ensuring that your home is safe to live in.