Why is Soot so Bad for Your Health?

Health Concerns of Soot

The word soot sounds so simple and harmless. To some, it conjures up images of campfires and candles, and perhaps a charming dance number from Mary Poppins. In fact, soot is anything but simple and is certainly not harmless.

Soot includes the fine black particles, chiefly composed of carbon, produced by incomplete combustion of coal, oil, wood, or other fuels. Soot can consist of acids, chemicals, metals, soils, and dust. The common trait of soot particles is that they are extremely tiny – 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter. This is smaller than dust or mold -- about 1/30 the diameter of a human hair.

This combination of being extremely small, yet highly toxic, is exactly what makes soot so dangerous. Soot can travel deep into the lung, where the carcinogens it carries can do major damage.

Risks – Health & Environment from Soot

Compounds from soot – sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides – combine with moisture to form acid rain, which worsens water quality, damages soil and crops, and changes nutrient balances in various ecosystems. Breathing the tiny particles can cause coronary heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, and many other respiratory illnesses. Research has also shown that many premature deaths are directly related to soot in the environment. Particle exposure leads to around 20,000 premature deaths in America each year. Many of these deaths were caused by soot-related diseases. Data also show that soot annually causes almost 300,000 asthma attacks and 2 million lost workdays due to respiratory problems.

Who Should I Call for a Soot Clean-Up?

Call a certified smoke & odor cleanup company like PDQ Restoration. There are multiple accreditations that restoration companies can have. The primary association is IICRC, which offers accreditation’s for a variety of different trades, such as Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician (FSRT), Odor Control Technician (OCT), Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT), Applied Structural Drying Technician (ASD), and a host of others. Companies and individuals can also become certified through RIA.

It’s important to use a company certified to perform the work you need it done. Not only do they know how best to clean up the smoke damage and remove the odor, but you’re less likely to deal with any issues/concerns from your adjuster during the claims process. They’ll typically have a list of reputable, certified contractors in the area that deal with smoke damage losses, so they’re familiar with their level of service and professionalism.

If your home or business is in Northern NJ, we’re a company that can provide the expert help you need to clean up and restore your home from your smoke & odor loss.

We are here to help, call PDQ today at 973-447-3363 to speak with one of our smoke cleanup and odor removal restoration experts.