Soot, Char, & Ash: It’s More Toxic Than You Think (2023)

FAQs

Is fireplace ash harmful to humans? ›

The ash deposited by forest fires is relatively nontoxic and similar to ash that might be found in your fireplace. However, any ash will contain small amounts of cancer-causing chemicals. In addition, fire ash may be irritating to the skin, especially to those with sensitive skin.

Soot, ash & char are byproducts of incomplete combustion produced from the burning of organic matter. They are most easily recognizable as fine powdery dust, embers, debris and blackened, destroyed materials which constitute the spent remains after fire.

Soot is easily distinguished from the residual ash by its dark color. The ash, in comparison, is much lighter in color and is composed of primarily metallic components which are incombustible. Although many sources contribute to ash, the majority of the ash originates in the engine oil.

Wood ash contains a surprising array of heavy metals (e.g., zinc, nickel, copper, lead, chromium, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, among others). In high enough concentrations, these can cause problems for people and aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS), which cause cancer and are also found in cigarette smoke and chimney soot. Volatile Organic Compounds, such as benzene, which cause cancer. Dioxins, which are highly carcinogenic, are also produced when wood is burned.

Ash from untreated charcoal can be used in your garden. Treated (typically sold as 'easy to light') charcoal ashes shouldn't be used as they can be toxic. The ash from treated charcoal will need to be disposed of in your residual waste bin (i.e. sent to landfill).

When Abraham talks to God in Genesis 18, asking him to spare Sodom, he says, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.” In summary, the Bible uses dust and ashes to refer to mankind's humble origin, feeble composition, and temporal nature.

Soot is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels, particularly coal.

Dust to dust is mentioned in Ecclesiastes 3:20, "All are from the dust, and to dust all return." In the Bible, this passage emphasizes that humans and animals are no different and that everyone is made up of the earth and will return to the earth.

Ash includes trees and vegetation but can also include building material or any other burned object. Char is a black carbon substance produced when a substance or material does not completely burn. It is darker than ash. Soot is also a black carbon substance produced when a material on fire does not completely combust.

What is the difference between char and soot? ›

Char and soot differ in content of elemental carbon and organic carbon. Soot can be identified by PAHs, nitriles, heterocyclic nitrogen, benzofurans. Char consists of organic products of thermal decomposition of lignin a cellulose. Chemical composition of residues can be utilized for identification of burned fuel.

Smoke particles, also known as soot or char, are carbon residue that remains after a fire. Since soot particles are acidic, they smudge easily and cling aggressively to walls.

There are some superstitions about keeping ashes in the home

Some people worry it's bad luck to keep ashes in their house, or it might mean the spirit or ghost of the person will stay in the house. Whatever your beliefs, there is no right or wrong when it comes to handling the ashes of a person who's died.

Ash is hard, abrasive, mildly corrosive, conducts electricity when wet, and does not dissolve in water.

Not only does this cause air pollution, it also generates enormous quantities of ash, containing toxic substances including heavy metals and carcinogens.

When hardwoods are burned in good conditions for a fire, they produce very little smoke or unhealthy particulate matter. A few examples of the most popular hardwoods for fires are white oak, ash, birch, red oak, hard maple, beech, hickory, pecan, dogwood, apple, and almond.

Much like cigarette smoke, wood smoke contains hundreds of air pollutants that can cause cancer and other health problems. One of these pollutants that is of most concern is fine particles.

Avoid wood from conifers such as pine, redwood, fir, spruce, cypress, or cedar. These trees contain high levels of sap and turpenes, which results in a funny taste and can make people sick. Cedar planks are popular for cooking salmon, but don't burn the wood for smoke.

This product does not contain any Proposition 65 chemicals.

Kingsford Charcoal is made from charred soft and hardwoods such as pine, spruce, hickory, oak and others depending on which regional manufacturing plant it comes from. That char is then mixed with ground coal and other ingredients to make a charcoal briquette.

Is charcoal ash carcinogenic? ›

Charcoal itself is not a carcinogen, but cooking with charcoal does have a link to cancer. There are two main reasons for this. The first risk of charcoal use is that you're cooking foods at very high temperatures, the second is that charcoal cooking creates a lot of smoke.

According to most Biblical study websites, there is no explicit scriptural command for or against cremation. There are no passages that forbid cremation, according to most Biblical scholars.

In the Bible, there are no passages that prohibit or encourage cremation and scattering of ashes. However, many Christian sects believe a burial funeral aligns with best end-of-life practices.

Since the Bible does not ban nor promote cremation, most Christian denominations do not consider cremation to be sinful.

The small size of particulate matter allows it to easily enter the lungs and bloodstream. This can cause serious effects including heart attacks, bronchitis, aggravated asthma, strokes, and even premature death. There are several harmful environmental side effects associated with soot.

Soot is a dangerous pollutant that increases the risk of asthma, heart attacks, strokes and cancer. Evidence shows that the U.S. EPA's current limit of 12 micrograms per cubic meter is harmful to public health.

Chimney Soot is high in Potash is a major nutrient that is essential for good fruiting and flowering and it also helps the plants get through the winter. It can also be a useful additive to the compost heap or can be applied directly to fallow ground and dug in.

The ashes symbolize both death and repentance. During this period, Christians show repentance and mourning for their sins, because they believe Christ died for them.

But in the ancient Middle East, the writers of the Hebrew Bible forbade tattooing. Per Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.”

The Bible held several customs for burial. Traditions affirmed that after a person breathed the last breath, the eyes were shut and closed (Gen 46:4). The law required that burial of the dead occurred the same day, before sundown (Lev 10:4; Deut 21:23).

Does soot smell like smoke? ›

Soot also has an odor that smells like smoke or burnt materials. When the soot spreads around your property after a fire, the unpleasant odor often spreads with it.

When wood and other organic matter burn, they produce smoke, a complex mixture of gases and fine particles. Ash is deposited on the ground, and often stirred up into the air by winds. One of the biggest health threats from smoke comes from fine particles.

Incomplete combustion means that there is not enough oxygen present when the material is burned to completely consume the fuel. Instead of only carbon dioxide and water vapour being created, incomplete combustion can result in the production of soot, smoke, and ash.

The presence of a large amount of soot around your furnace can indicate that your furnace is giving off carbon-monoxide due to partial combustion. If you have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, this might start going off to tell you – if you don't have one, it's a good idea that you do.

All smoke contains carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter (PM or soot).

To char is to burn or blacken something so that it's like charcoal but still tasty. A char is something that has been burned in this way. To char is to burn something on the outside. If you've ever eaten a hot dog or hamburger cooked over an open flame, it was charred.

Dishes. You may be asking yourself, is it safe to use dishes after a house fire? As long as your plates, pots, utensils and other kitchen items are thoroughly cleaned, they should be safe to use. However, plastic and wood dishes will likely need to be thrown out because smoke can be easily absorbed into these materials ...

Get plenty of rest and sleep. You may feel weak and tired for a while, but your energy level will improve with time. Prop up your head on pillows to help you breathe and ease a cough. Suck on cough drops or hard candy to soothe a dry or sore throat.

Regular white vinegar is one of the most versatile cleaners. Not only will it break down oily soot stains, but it can even remove set-in nicotine stains. Mix one part warm water to three parts vinegar, then wipe gently with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth to remove soot from walls, ceilings, or woodwork.

Smoke may smell good, but it's not good for you. The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles, also called fine particulate matter or PM2. 5. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they may cause burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses, such as bronchitis.

Is ash a toxic substance? ›

Some of the compounds found in coal ash can cause cancer after continued long-term ingestion and inhalation. When a natural disaster occurs, contamination from coal ash can affect drinking water systems. Public water systems monitor and control for these types of contaminants.

Because of the low amount of smoke that Ash firewood produces it's a great wood to burn in indoor fireplaces.

Wood ash can be used sparingly in gardens, spread thinly over lawns and stirred thoroughly into compost piles. Lawns needing lime and potassium benefit from wood ash — 10 to 15 pounds per 1,000 square feet, Perry said. “This is the amount you may get from one cord of firewood,” he said.

Note: Always leave a layer of ashes in the bottom of the stove. It insulates the firebox and makes it easier to light a fire.

To be safe, Endee recommends taking the metal buckets of ashes out of the house immediately after collecting them and disposing of them in a secure location, such as on top of a snowbank in the winter or in a moist area in warmer months away from dry grass or weeds.

Are firelogs or firestarters toxic if my pet eats part of them? Our firelogs are made of sawdust, agricultural fibers, waxes and oils; we are not aware of any ingredients that would cause a chemically toxic reaction should your pet consume a small amount of these products.

What kind of wood SHOULD NOT be burned in the fireplace? Don't burn driftwood in your fireplace. Driftwood is loaded with salt, and the chlorine in salt mixes with wood compounds during burning to release a toxic chemical, one that's been linked to cancer. Don't burn treated, painted, or sealed wood in your fireplace.

Smokey odors from your fireplace are usually safe and simply indicate that your fire is burning. However, if you notice a strong smoke smell, it could be a sign that your chimney is blocked. A blocked chimney can cause dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide in your home.

Allergies/Toxicity: Ash in the Fraxinus genus has been reported to cause skin irritation, and a decrease in lung function.

Contacts. Breathing coal ash dust can trigger asthma attacks, lead to cancer and lung disease and other serious health problems according to a new report released today by Physicians for Social Responsibility and Earthjustice.

Why is ash toxic? ›

Coal ash contains contaminants like mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Without proper management, these contaminants can pollute waterways, ground water, drinking water, and the air.

FACT: Coals and ashes from fires can remain hot enough to start a fire for many days after the fire is out. The exact amount of time for complete extinguishment and cooling depends on many factors such as how hot the fire was, what was burning, how much unburned fuel remains, etc.

Conversely, ash does not produce a high amount of creosote. Creosote is the black, tar-like substance you may have seen building up around a fireplace or chimney. It's a deposit caused by regular wood burning, but only some types of wood produce large volumes of creosote.

Hardwoods such as maple, oak, ash, birch, and most fruit trees are the best burning woods that will give you a hotter and longer burn time. These woods have the least pitch and sap and are generally cleaner to handle.