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Smoke is a mixture of gases and suspended particulate matter, or aerosols. The nature of the aerosol component of smoke can play a significant role in the lethal and sublethal effects on people. This paper presents the current state of knowledge about factors that affect smoke toxicity: the amount of aerosols produced in fires and their characteristics, the changes in concentration that occur as the smoke moves away from the fire, and the potential for the aerosols to transport adsorbed or absorbed toxic gases into the lungs.
Butler, K.
and Mulholland, G.
(2004),
Generation and Transport of Smoke Components, Fire Technology, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=861149
(Accessed October 10, 2025)