White or gray in color, saltpeter is a chemical substance that forms naturally on walls. Also called stone salt or potassium nitrate (KNO3), it is created through mineral salts from groundwater. It manages to migrate to the surfaces of the walls of houses because of capillary rise, rainwater infiltration or very high humidity. What are the consequences of such a phenomenon? Let’s discover the dangers of saltpeter on your health and your home in this article.
Dangers of saltpeter on human health
In the first place, we remind you that the appearance of saltpeter in a house shows that a high level of humidity had been present for a long time. It can also prove that the occupants of the house started by developing diseases. Under these conditions, adults are exposed to respiratory disorders such as:
- asthma;
- chronic bronchitis and asthmatiform;
- rhinitis;
- respiratory allergies.
Similarly, high humidity leads to the development of bacteria and fungi. This promotes the appearance of eczema, hives, pimples, rashes, rags on most of the body. Be aware that this risk increases more and more, if the time and intensity of exposure of the person to potassium nitrate are large.
When it comes to children, the risk factor is even more important, as they are vulnerable beings. During their period of growth, their living conditions have a great impact on their health in the future. This justifies the fact that the probability that they will develop one of these ailments is multiplied by 3.5.
In general, children may have a chronic cough or may be prone to pneumonic disorders. When saltpeter is accidentally introduced into their body or that of your pet, it can lead to heart problems. It can also be responsible for digestive upset, muscle weakness, dizziness, and headaches.
In addition, children may be exposed to anemia and vitamin deficiency, if the duration of ingestion is long. Thyroid disorders, hyperactivity, and kidney inflammation are also problems that can appear.
Specifically, babies can be prone to poor oxygenation of the blood that will subsequently cause cyanosis. Since nitrites and nitrates are known as carcinogens, adults can also develop cancer risks over time.
Dangers of saltpeter on the house
Stone salt also presents dangers for housing. Indeed, by crossing all the layers of the walls, it leads to the destruction of the different masonry. We can as an example, talk about the interior cracks that you can already notice in your home. This is possible given the action of mineral salts on materials.
This state of affairs is the basis of coating detachments, wall coverings, plaster crumbling and paint crumbling. In addition, saltpeter destroys even the stone. Once in contact with the latter, he gradually reduced it to the state of powder.
In addition to this, saltpeter causes the value of your property to fall. Being simple to spot on the constructions, your potential customer will have to consider the price of his treatment to lower the cost of your property if you want to sell it.
At the same time, it acts on the aesthetic aspect of your home. As you can see for yourself, white or gray markings are not pleasant to see, which diminishes the beauty of your residence.
We also remind you that saltpeter often appears on the base of a wall. This indirectly shows you that it is the entire foundation of your home that is being weakened. However, by getting rid of the whitish deposit on the walls, you do not yet eliminate saltpeter. Instead, you need to seek to address the source of the problem.
To overcome this phenomenon, Groupe Fissure Expert is the professional you need. Thanks to our unique know-how in the field, we are best placed to process saltpeter. We have very effective working materials to dry out your walls.
What’s more, we can spot and repair a concrete foundation crack . We also offer solutions for cracks on slabs, swimming pools, window corners and water infiltration. Do not hesitate to call us for all your crack problems.
To learn more about the different repair companies, we invite you to consult the catalog: https://montreagence.com/category/renovation/
