Dust Exposure And Sock: Is There A Link?

Dust particles can be organic or inorganic, and both are risk factors for sickness. Organic dust comes from animals or plants, such as livestock, hay, grain, straw and woodchip, and is commonly found in the agricultural industry. Long-term exposure to organic dust can lead to serious diseases of the respiratory system, including Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS) and Farmer’s lung. Inorganic dust comes from grinding metals or minerals such as stone, rock, sand and quartz. If you think you are experiencing symptoms related to dust exposure, you should consult a healthcare professional.

Dust allergies

Yes, being around dust can make you sick. Dust particles can be organic or inorganic, and both are risk factors for sickness. Organic dust comes from animals or plants, for example, livestock, hay, grain, straw and woodchip. Inorganic dust comes from grinding metals or minerals such as stone, rock, sand and quartz.

If you have a dust mite allergy, you may feel as if you have a constant cold or even asthma. A more serious condition is hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which is caused by inhaling dust containing fungal spores. Over time, this can damage long-term lung health if lung tissue becomes scarred.

If you think you have a dust allergy, try to note when your symptoms happen and any other important details, such as a family history of allergies or work history of exposure to dust. If your breathing is affected, your healthcare provider may perform a simple lung function test. If you have skin reactions, you may be referred for an allergy skin test to check whether dust mites are the cause.

Organic dust

Dust particles can be organic or inorganic, depending on their source. Both are risk factors for sickness. Organic dust comes from animals or plants, for example, livestock, hay, grain, straw and woodchip. It is commonly found in the agricultural industry. Long-term exposure can lead to serious diseases of the respiratory system, including Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS) and Farmer’s lung. ODTS is thought to be more common than Farmer’s lung, which is linked to breathing in spores from mouldy hay or straw.

If you think you are experiencing symptoms related to dust exposure, only your healthcare provider will be able to tell you if dust is making you sick. Try to note when your symptoms happen and any other important details, such as a family history of allergies or work history of exposure to dust. If your breathing is affected, they may perform a simple lung function test by asking you to inhale or exhale using a device, such as a spirometer. If you have skin reactions, they may refer you for an allergy skin test to check whether dust mites are the cause.

Inorganic dust

Dust particles can be organic or inorganic, and both are risk factors for sickness. Inorganic dust comes from grinding metals or minerals such as stone, rock, sand, quartz, soil, silica, asbestos, and coal. Inorganic dust is less visible than organic dust, but it is equally important and critical. Inhalation of these dusts can cause lung disease (pneumoconiosis), usually after years of cumulative exposure. The most common inhaled dusts that cause disease are asbestos, silica, and coal dust. However, inhaling dust or fumes from other compounds such as aluminium, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, mercury, and nickel can also cause lung disease.

If you think dust is making you sick, try to note when your symptoms happen and any other important details, such as a family history of allergies or work history of exposure to dust. If your breathing is affected, a healthcare provider may perform a simple lung function test. If you have skin reactions, they may refer you for an allergy skin test to check whether dust mites are the cause.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Yes, being around dust can make you sick. Dust particles can be organic or inorganic, and both are risk factors for sickness. Organic dust comes from animals or plants, for example, livestock, hay, grain, straw and woodchip. Inorganic dust comes from grinding metals or minerals such as stone, rock, sand and quartz.

One disease caused by long-term exposure to dust is hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This is a rare immune system disorder that affects your lungs. It is caused by inhaling dust containing fungal spores, bird feathers or droppings, household mould, animal dander or skin cells shed by animals with fur. This triggers an allergic reaction, causing short- or long-term inflammation in the lungs. This inflammation prevents the lungs from working properly and can make it harder to breathe.

Cases vary in severity and are normally categorised as either acute or chronic. Acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis is the most common. Only about 5% of people with acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis develop chronic forms of the condition. The primary treatment is to eliminate exposure to the allergen, with medication being administered if symptoms don’t subside.

Lung function tests

If you think that dust is making you sick, only a healthcare provider will be able to tell you for sure. You should try to note when your symptoms happen and any other important details, such as a family history of allergies or work history of exposure to dust. If your breathing is affected, your healthcare provider may perform a simple lung function test. This involves asking you to inhale or exhale using a device, such as a spirometer.

If you have skin reactions, you may be referred for an allergy skin test to check whether dust mites are the cause. During this test, drops containing small amounts of dust mite allergens are put on your skin, which is then gently pricked.

A more common condition is a dust mite allergy, which is caused by inhaling dust mite allergens. Dust mite allergy is one of the most common allergies in the world. If you have this allergy, you may experience symptoms such as sneezing or coughing. You may also be referred for a blood test to look for IgE antibodies in your blood and show what you are allergic to.

If you inhale some types of dust allergens over months or years, it could cause a disease called hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This condition is caused by inhaling dust containing fungal spores. Over time, this can damage long-term lung health if lung tissue becomes scarred.

Frequently asked questions