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Suggest Treatment For Accidental Inhalation Of Burnt Oil Fumes

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Posted on Thu, 27 Aug 2015
Question: Hi there.
I am 23 weeks pregnant and last night I had something on the stove which I was frying in a saucepan of brown rice oil. However I forgot to turn off the stove and not long later the pot was smoking and there was smoke everywhere, it went all through the house. I hurriedly turned on the vent and fans and opened some doors but I did actually accidentally inhale some of the smoke, and I'm terrified because I know how toxic smoke and oil smoke fumes are. Is a one off exposure like this with a few breaths of the smoke going to cause neurological problems in my unborn baby? I already know these fumes are very toxic.
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Answered by Dr. Mahesh Koregol (59 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No need to worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I understand your concerns about toxic fumes.

Let me reassure you that few breaths of toxic fumes does not reach the baby.

Lungs have smaller units called alveoli which store extra oxygen. This oxygen stored is capable providing oxygen to body for 3 minutes even if there is toxic fume inhalation. This stored oxygen wards off ill effects of inhaled toxic fumes at the level of lungs itself.

Therefore the toxic fumes inhaled would not have reached the baby in any condition. I don't see any reason to worry as you have taken only few breaths and less than 3 minutes.

Dont worry. Your baby is safe.

Let me know if you need any more clarification.

Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Mahesh Koregol

Infertility Specialist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 3836 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Accidental Inhalation Of Burnt Oil Fumes

Brief Answer: No need to worry Detailed Answer: Hi, I understand your concerns about toxic fumes. Let me reassure you that few breaths of toxic fumes does not reach the baby. Lungs have smaller units called alveoli which store extra oxygen. This oxygen stored is capable providing oxygen to body for 3 minutes even if there is toxic fume inhalation. This stored oxygen wards off ill effects of inhaled toxic fumes at the level of lungs itself. Therefore the toxic fumes inhaled would not have reached the baby in any condition. I don't see any reason to worry as you have taken only few breaths and less than 3 minutes. Dont worry. Your baby is safe. Let me know if you need any more clarification. Regards