Plastic releases several harmful chemicals including hydrochloric acid, dioxins, furans, and sulfur dioxide when burned. If you ever accidentally come in contact with burning plastic, you may be wondering “what are the potential health consequences?”

Where Does Burning Plastic Occur?

Burning plastic is a scenario most commonly encountered on sites of industrial plants that manufacture, process, and heat plastics. Typically, either heat or pressure is used to mold plastics into their desired shapes. The manufacturing equipment used in these processes–injection molding machines, sanders, die heads, etc.–generate high heat and various chemical reactions, thus resulting in the release of plastic fumes.

Outside of manufacturing, other groups of professionals such as firefighters and plastic welders may also encounter burning plastic while on the job due to the process of thermal decomposition. This occurs when compounds break down as a result of heating into their various components, including fatty acids, manufacturing compounds, and plastic fumes.

Types of Plastics

Plastic comes in two main varieties: thermoset and thermoplastic. The former contains permanent chemical bonds and cannot be reshaped or melted back into a liquid state. Thermoplastics, on the other hand, become soft upon heating and eventually turn to a liquid form which allows them to be reshaped.

The following are the most common plastic types:

• PMMA
• Polyurethane
• ABS
• Epoxy
• PS
• PP
• Melamine
• Phenolics
• PVC
• Polyamide
• HDPE
• Polycarbonate
• Polyester
• PETE or PET
• Styrene-Acrylonitrile
• PE
• LDPE

When plastic burns, it emits many toxic gases into the surrounding air, including:

• Acrolein
• Formaldehyde
• Hydrogen Cyanide
• Styrene
• Acetone
• Phenol
• Butadiene
• Aldehydes
• Hydrogen Chloride
• Butane

What Happens When You Inhale Burning Plastic

The health consequences you might face from inhaling burning plastic are dependent on many factors: the type of plastic, the method of burning, the length of exposure to the fumes, etc. However, most commonly, individuals who have been exposed to burning plastic experience throat, nose, and skin irritation. The most adversely affected organs are the lungs. As the lungs swell due to exposure to the fumes, it becomes progressively more difficult for the body to get oxygen into the blood, increasing the likelihood of respiratory failure.  Other commonly observed adverse effects include asthma, headaches, nervous system damage, heart disease, and damage to vital organs.

With prolonged exposure, individuals may experience the following symptoms:

• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing blood
• Aggravated asthma
• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Nausea

Seeking medical treatment quickly is the best way to avoid the long-term consequences of inhaling plastic fumes. For comprehensive relief and thorough removal of any lingering odors, it is advisable to consult professionals who specialize in odor removal.

How to Prevent Adverse Health Effects From Burning Plastic

While it may not be a life-threatening scenario in every case, inhaling burning plastic is definitely a situation worth taking steps to prevent. Below are several standard best practices you can use to reduce your risk of sustaining health consequences from inhaling plastic fumes.

1. Check your air quality levels. Poor air quality can be treated with portable extractors that absorb the fumes using HEPA filters.
2. Consider investing in air cleaners to further improve indoor air quality.
3. Open windows and doors to adequately ventilate your home. Fans can also further improve air circulation when placed near windows and doors.
4. To absorb the odor of the burning plastic, fill bowls with white vinegar and place them in affected areas of the home.
5. Mask the odor with deodorizing agents, candles, and incense.
6. Treat your carpets overnight with baking soda. Vacuum the following day.
7. Use mild dish detergent on walls to get rid of the lingering odor.
8. Reach out to a fire damage restoration specialist to clear the area of any lingering smoke, soot, or odors.
9. Contact a medical professional immediately if symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or other conditions do not improve.

The risk of inhaling plastic fumes is highest when working in manufacturing or another industry where plastics are regularly exposed to high heat. However, the risk is always present, even in your own home. Although the chance is minimal that long-term damage will occur, it is important to take steps to prevent inhaling plastic fumes, as doing so can cause extensive damage to your heart, lungs, and other vital organs.

A reputable fire or smoke damage restoration company can assist with cleaning up the aftermath of fires involving burning plastic. In addition to the immediate flames, fires also create smoke, soot, and other corrosive byproducts that can spread further and linger longer on your property than the fire itself. Enlisting the help of a professional restoration team will ensure the property is cleared of burned items and fire byproducts that may contribute to negative health effects.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.