About 19 hours ago, I was near a construction site where a giant machine was cutting down trees and turning them into sawdust. I stood about 20 meters (65 feet) away, but the wind blew a thick cloud of dust right toward me. This went on for about a minute. A few minutes later, I started coughing and my trachea felt really itchy. Now I'm freaking out a bit—how long can I expect these symptoms to last? I've heard that these kinds of issues typically resolve in just a few hours, but it's been a whole day now and I'm still feeling uncomfortable.
3 Answers
You're probably going to be alright. It's common for wood dust to irritate the throat, but if it continues for more than a couple of days, definitely reach out to a doctor. Your lungs are pretty good at filtering things out, especially bigger particles. Just make sure you’re taking care of yourself!
It's normal to feel a bit freaked out, but generally speaking, one exposure like yours shouldn’t cause major harm. If you don’t have any pre-existing conditions or allergies, you’re most likely going to be okay. Just keep an eye on your symptoms, and if it doesn’t improve in a day or two, reaching out to a doctor is a solid move. Better safe than sorry!
Thanks for the reassurance! I'll monitor it, but it's nice to know that many people have similar experiences.
If inhalation were really that dangerous after just one exposure, we’d all be in trouble! Sure, it's wise to be cautious, but truthfully, most people who work with wood and inhale dust regularly come away just fine. Make sure you use a mask for future projects if you are sensitive to dust.
I totally agree! I’ve been woodworking for years and, sure, you need to protect yourself, but a one-off incident like this isn’t likely to cause lasting damage.
Exactly! Just keep hydrated and don’t push it. It should clear up soon.