injuries and poisoning
Smoke Inhalation
Introduction
Smoke can suffocate people and sometimes also contains toxic chemicals produced by the burning substance. Some of these chemicals can damage the lungs or poison the body. Many people who have been Burns in fires have also inhaled smoke. Sometimes people inhale smoke without sustaining skin burns. Inhaling small amounts of smoke usually causes no serious, lasting effects. However, if the smoke contains certain poisonous chemicals or is unusually dense or if inhalation is prolonged, serious problems can develop. Even common household materials such as plastics and fabrics can produce poisonous chemicals (toxic products of combustion) when they burn. Smoke inhalation can cause problems in several ways: Suffocating the body with carbon monoxide Poisoning the body with toxic chemicals Damaging the windpipe, breathing passages, and/or lungs from toxic chemicals Burning the mouth and throat from hot gases Carbon monoxide is a gas produced in many fires. When inhaled, carbon monoxide prevents the blood from carrying oxygen so tissues do not get enough oxygen (see also Carbon Monoxide Poisoning . Many household and industrial substances release cyanide when burned and cause Systemic Asphyxiant Chemical-Warfare Agents . Inhalation of chemicals released in the smoke, such as hydrogen chloride, phosgene, sulfur dioxide, toxic aldehyde chemicals, and ammonia, can cause swelling and damage to the windpipe (trachea) and even the lungs. Eventually, the small airways leading to the lungs narrow, further obstructing airflow. Hot smoke usually burns only the mouth and throat rather than the lungs because smoke cools quickly. However, an exception is steam, which carries much more heat energy than smoke and thus can also burn the airways in the lungs. 