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Things That Are Dangerous to the Respiratory System

The human body is a delicate balance of different organs that function together to make the body work. One of the most important organs are the lungs, which control the respiratory system and control the flow of oxygen to other parts of the body. Despite the resiliency of the respiratory system to most environmental conditions, there are gases and organisms that pose a dangerous risk to the system.

  1. Carbon Monoxide

    • Carbon monoxide is highly toxic to the respiratory system because it readily binds to hemoglobin. After binding, the hemoglobin is unable to effectively transport oxygen to parts of your body until the carbon monoxide detaches itself. Although people are exposed to small levels of carbon monoxide on a regular basis, it is in larger amounts that permanent damage can be done to the respiratory system, sometimes causing death.

    Tobacco Smoke

    • Both tobacco and second-hand smoke is produced by burning tobacco products, and the most often associated danger with tobacco smoke is cancer. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, with 250 of those being harmful to the body, including ammonia, carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, according to the National Cancer Institute. Secondhand smoke is also a respiratory system risk with at least 69 chemicals in the smoke --- such as arsenic, benzene, beryllium (toxic metal), cadmium and chromium (metallic element) --- that can cause cancer.

    Mold

    • Mold is often found in humid, moist areas of a house and can be extremely dangerous when inhaled into the respiratory system. The most dangerous mold types are Stachybotrys atra (black mold) and Aspergillus, which are toxic to the liver, kidneys, brain and heart when the body is exposed to large concentrations. Houses that are most at risk are those that have been flooded and have sustained water damage to drywall, wood or other natural fibers. Mold can cause asthma or permanent respiratory problems, such as chronic bronchitis.

    Asbestos

    • Asbestos is a building material that was often used in the construction of older houses and buildings. It is no longer used in construction because it contains asbestos fibers that get lodged in the lungs permanently when the material is inhaled. These fibers accumulate in the lungs, causing scarring and inflammation, which effects breathing. This condition is known as asbestosis. Asbestos exposure can also increase lung cancer, mesothelioma and abnormalities to the pleura, which is the lining of the chest cavity outside the lung. Some of these abnormalities are pleural thickening (fluid around the lungs) and pleural plaques (calcified deposits on the surface of the lungs).

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