Soot is one of the most challenging after-effects of a fire. It can damage your property and be dangerous to humans. A tiny particle, soot, can easily enter our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or even through the skin and eyes. Prolonged exposure to black soot can affect your overall health. Let’s look at what soot is and how it can be dangerous.
What is Soot?
Soot is a byproduct of the incomplete burning of organic carbon-containing materials, including wood, fuel oil, plastic, or other household materials. When incomplete combustion occurs, there isn’t enough oxygen or air supply, and the material burns at a lower temperature, turning into soot particles. Soot smoke settles on surfaces, causes discoloration in wood and fiber, and leaves a noticeable smell. The fine black or brown powder that makes up soot also contains a number of carcinogens, including arsenic, cadmium, and chromium.
Not only do its acidic properties lead to property damage and poor indoor air quality, but soot also penetrates deep into the lungs and even enters the bloodstream, posing significant health risks such as respiratory disease, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and, in extreme cases, premature death. A number of studies have found associations with other cancers, including lung, esophageal, and bladder cancers.
Side Effects of Soot on Health
Even a small amount of soot exposure creates various adverse effects on health, especially on the respiratory system. Here are the most common side effects of soot:
1. Difficulty Breathing
Soot particles are tiny enough to penetrate deep into the lungs, causing asthma or irritation. Soot from fire irritates the airways and reduces lung function, making breathing harder. Prolonged exposure can cause more serious respiratory issues.
2. Eye Irritation
The fine particles in soot directly irritate the eyes, resulting in redness, itching, and watering. Over time, it can lead to more severe eye irritation or damage.
3. Cough
Inhaling soot irritates the throat and lungs, leading to a persistent cough. Coughing is usually the body’s response to clearing the airways of the soot particles that have been inhaled. Soot can also trigger pre-existing respiratory conditions, like asthma.
4. Sore Throat
Sore particles also irritate the mucous membranes of the throat, leading to inflammation and soreness. This is a common symptom for people who have been exposed to polluted air containing soot.
5. Lung Disorders
Soot not only worsens respiratory issues but is a known carcinogen. Prolonged exposure to soot significantly increases the risk of developing or worsening chronic respiratory diseases and lung disorders, including:
- Bronchitis
- Asthma
- Lung cancer
What Else Can Cause Soot?
Soot is not just a byproduct of a fire. It can also be caused by other processes. Here are some common sources and locations where soot can be found:
1. Residential Heating
If you use oil, wood, or coal for heating in your home, that, too, can produce soot. Fireplaces, wood stoves, and boilers are common residential sources of soot when they are not properly maintained or vented.
2. Cooking
Cooking, especially at high temperatures or over an open flame, like in a grill or non-ventilated kitchen, produces soot.
3. Candles and Oil Lamps
When the paraffin in candles and oil in lamps does not completely combust, soot is produced, especially if the wick is too long or there is insufficient air supply.
4. Vehicle Exhaust
Cars, trucks, buses, and other diesel-engine vehicles also emit significant amounts of soot in their exhaust fumes.
5. Agricultural Burning
The burning of agricultural waste and land clearing through fire also generates soot and significantly affects air quality.
6. Industrial Processes
Factories and power plants, especially those that burn coal or oil, are major contributors to soot emissions. Manufacturing processes involving the combustion of fossil fuels also release large quantities of soot into the atmosphere.
7. Construction Sites
Certain types of construction and demolition activities release soot into the air, particularly when materials that contain carbon are burned, or heavy machinery is used.
8. Natural Sources
Wildfires spread soot over wide areas, impacting regions far outside the immediate zone of the fire.
How Can I Remove Soot?
Soot lingers and spreads throughout the house if it’s not removed properly. Cleaning out soot is difficult since it is not only dusty but also oily. It requires proper precautions and specialized cleaning materials. So, it’s best to call professionals for soot and fire damage cleanup. Here is the soot removal process:
1. Safety first
Before cleaning the soot off of walls, carpets, ceilings, clothes, brick, stone fireplace, curtains, and other areas, you must be aware of these safety protocols:
- Never touch anything during the first inspection of the room to avoid transferring the soot.
- Wear the necessary protective gear, including gloves, a face mask, and long sleeves and pants that cover your skin.
- Keep the room well-ventilated to minimize how much soot you breathe in and allow the odor to dissipate.
Remember, not following proper cleaning protocols exposes you to soot, which causes health risks.
2. Empty the Room
The next step is to take out the necessary furniture and other items from the room to prevent further contamination and to make it easier to remove soot from the floor and walls. Cover any items that cannot be removed with plastic sheets to protect them from soot particles.
3. Ventilation
Open doors or windows to allow fresh air into the room and to clear airborne soot particles. Use fans to direct the air outward to push contaminated air out of the room. Always turn off your HVAC system first to prevent the spread of smoke and soot.
4. Dry Cleaning
For fabrics like curtains or clothing, consider dry cleaning to remove soot stains effectively. Dry cleaning is an effective way to remove soot without pushing the particles deeper into the fabric.
5. Wet Cleaning
For hard surfaces like walls, floors, and ceilings, use a wet cleaning method. Use a cloth or take a cleaning sponge and dip it in warm water and a mild detergent solution. It’s important to frequently rinse your cleaning tools and change out the cleaning solution to avoid reapplying soot.
6. Avoid Spreading Soot Further
While cleaning, start from the ceiling and work your way down to the floor. This will help prevent soot from spreading to already-clean areas. Use slow and steady movements rather than vigorous scrubbing to avoid embedding soot into surfaces or putting it back into the air.
7. Professional Help
If you are dealing with the extensive aftermath of a fire, hire trusted professionals like OKC Restorations. We have the necessary equipment and professional cleaners with the experience to handle large-scale soot and smoke damage safely and effectively.
8. Prevent Future Occurrences
To minimize further soot buildup, regularly clean and maintain furnaces, chimneys, and stoves. Also, consider upgrading to cleaner fuel options that reduce soot emissions inside the house. Always call a professional to inspect and clean exhaust vents and filters.
Conclusion
Soot is a dangerous byproduct of incomplete combustion. Its fine particles penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing serious respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Soot damages wood, fiber, clothes, and walls by leaving stains and a noticeable smell. Effective soot management and removal are crucial to safeguarding your health and the environment. For expert soot removal, call OKC Restorations today for a free inspection.