Dangers of Inhaling Lint From Dryers
The lint that accumulates after drying clothes from the drier can be very toxic and harmful. The most famous threat of the material is its flammability, producing the possibility of fires if it isn’t properly cleaned out frequently. Additionally, it can contain many chemicals that may be toxic in many distinct manners if inhaled. These compounds include fabric softeners, the clothes themselves, along with other environmental factors that enter the garments and dryer.
Inhaling Lint Respiratory
A frequent issue is respiratory effects caused by dryer lint inhalation. The physical lint, even with no possibility of chemicals, is a foreign material which shouldn’t enter your lungs. If it does, it might cause coughing and difficulty breathing. A few of the substances that especially target the lymph system stem out of fabric softeners. Alpha-terpineol was proven to cause irritation to mucous membranes and pneumonia-type ailments that could lead to acute inflammation of the lungs when inhaled. Bensyl alcohol triggers upper-respiratory disturbances which can result in respiratory failure.
Cancer
Several of the same substances, as well as a handful of others, have been studied and shown to create carcinogenic effects. Some chemicals are even located on the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Hazardous Waste List.” An example of one of these chemicals is chloroform, which should not be heated up, and can cause tumors in the liver and kidneys. Another carcinogenic chemical found in dryer lint is benzyl acetate, which may be the cause of pancreatic cancers.
CNS Disorders
Diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) could be extremely problematic. These ailments can be anything from a headache to acute convulsions. A number of the compounds found in dryer lint that could lead to CNS disorders come from fire retardants used in cloth. These may also be quite dangerous in young children or pregnant women, since they may result in birth defects between motor abilities and behavior based on studies done on rats and mice.
