So many toxic things. Asbestos, lead, PCBs, fine particle dust, and so much more. Anyone who got hit with dust in NYC that day is basically at high risk for dozens of terrible conditions and diseases.
Doesn't really matter in such a case. Carcinogenic materials are usually not toxic (stuff like lead aside) but simply so small that they can get into your lungs and such. And in such an event, the air is filled with extremely fine particle dust of concrete, glass and other normal building materials. Not that concrete dust is much more healthy.
I am aware, just wanted to add that in case someone thinks that it is possible to make such an event not incredibly unhealthy. And even a log cabin will be, at least when it goes up in smoke.
True, though I suppose it would still be far less carcinogenic by comparison, given that wood smoke is fairly commonplace to be exposed to and isn't particularly regulated.
Like it's usage in fireplaces, outdoor fire pits, or in various cooking usages where smoke is infused into food and directly consumed.
And smoke is pretty much a daily exposure for firefighters.
I mean yes, but firefighters try to stay as far away from the smoke as possible and utilize heavy breathing equipment if they can't. Soot and woodsmoke are incredibly carcinogenic. To the point where firefighters in my country change clothes as soon as possible, even having a specifically equipped car for it. And they try to not touch it without gloves, just because of the soot and everything that is on the jacket. They reason why it is not as heavily regulated is likely because a) it is simply not as common as it once was and b) people try to get away from wood smoke by themself because it smells bad and makes breathing hard.
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u/HailMadScience 14h ago
So many toxic things. Asbestos, lead, PCBs, fine particle dust, and so much more. Anyone who got hit with dust in NYC that day is basically at high risk for dozens of terrible conditions and diseases.