The Health Hazards of Smoke to the Body

(smoke from the chimney of an industry, puffing out into the atmosphere)

What is the smoke?

Smoke is made up small particles, gases and water vapor. Water vapor makes up the majority of smoke. The remainder includes carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, irritant volatile organic compounds, air toxics and very small particles.

  

It poses several health hazards that puts people into asking questions like:

Is wood fire smoke harmful?

Many people believe that since wood smoke is a natural substance, it is notharmful. However, smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces is a major part of Washington's air pollution problem. Wood smoke contains tiny particles and gases that can have serious health effects when breathed.

What are the symptoms of smoke inhalation?

The signs and symptoms of smoke inhalation depend on the source of the smoke and how long you were exposed to the smoke:

·         Cough and hoarseness.

·         Chest pain or coughing up blood.

·         Trouble breathing, such as shortness of breath and noisy breathing.

·         Headache, abdominal pain, and nausea.

·         Eye irritation or vision problems.

·         Fainting

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Is wood smoke carcinogen?

Smoke from wood that is not burned completely contains a number of chemicals, including carbon monoxide (CO). ... In addition to particle pollution, wood smokecontains several toxic harmful air pollutants including: benzene, formaldhyde, acrolein and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Is it bad to breathe in smoke from a fire?

Smoke may smell good, but it's not good for you. While not everyone has the same sensitivity to wildfire smoke, it's still a good idea to avoid breathing smoke if you can help it. ... Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles produced when wood and other organic materials burn.

Is a wood fire bad for the environment?

Most fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and other appliances that use wood as fuel create more air pollution than heaters and stoves that use other fuels. ... Fireplaces and wood stoves may leak unhealthy amounts of smoke into living spaces, whether it is visible to residents or not.

How long does it take to die from smoke inhalation in a fire?

Depending on the density and heat of the smoke, it may take 2 to 10 minutes to pass out or die. If there is more oxygen in the room, then you would have more time (but not much). Fire burns oxygen, so as a fire continues to be active, more oxygen gets removed from the room.

How do you die from smoke inhalation?

It is estimated that 50–80% of fire deaths are the result of smoke inhalation injuries, including burns to the respiratory system. The hot smoke injures or kills by a combination of thermal damage, poisoning and pulmonary irritation and swelling, caused by carbon monoxide, cyanide and other combustion products.

Can you get bronchitis from smoke inhalation?

Bronchitis can have causes other than infection. Bronchial wall inflammation canoccur in asthma or can be secondary to mucosal injury in an acute event, such assmoke or chemical fume inhalation. This inflammation can also result from chronic toxic exposure, such as cigarette smoking.