Can the dust in the air make me ill soon after breathing it?

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Hazard

Q & A FACT SHEET FOR ASBESTOS WORKERS IN SECONDARY RESPONSE AND OTHER SUPPORTING ROLES

Intense exposures to any type of dust and smoke can cause eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation, triggering coughing and sneezing. These symptoms are usually short-term, protective ways that the body uses to try to remove foreign material. When they persist or are very severe, they may be symptoms of a more serious injury.

Such severe reactions usually occur in the first day or so after a high-level exposure and include persistent shortness of breath, rapid breathing, chest pain or tightness, headache, dizziness, or fainting. Individuals with asthma, other lung conditions, or heart disease are generally more vulnerable to the effects of dust and smoke.