What are the effects of inhaling too much dust?

The excessive inhalation of dust can be extremely harmful, easily inducing rhinitis. Dust enters the nasal cavity and is adsorbed by the nasal mucosa, leading to rhinitis. It is also a significant factor that triggers chronic pharyngitis, causing sore throat and congestion. It can also easily lead to chronic bronchitis and poses a great threat to lung health, being a major cause of pneumoconiosis.

During respiration, dust first passes through the nasal cavity. In this process, nasal cilia can block some dust, while the remaining dust continues forward and is adsorbed by the nasal mucosa. Dust remaining on the nasal mucosa can easily induce dry rhinitis, followed by hypertrophic rhinitis. Common symptoms include nasal dryness, nasal congestion, nasal mucosa congestion, and increased secretions.

After dust exits the nasal cavity, it passes through the throat. The throat does not have the ability to block dust, but it can adhere to some dust carried by the airflow. Long-term repeated irritation of the throat by these dust particles can induce chronic pharyngitis. Common symptoms include dry throat, sore throat, throat itching, and excessive mucus.

Dust carried by airflow enters the bronchi after passing through the throat. These dust particles containing viruses and bacteria can irritate the bronchi, easily triggering asthma.

After exiting the bronchi, the remaining dust eventually enters the lungs. Long-term retention of dust can cause diffuse fibrosis of lung tissue, ultimately leading to pneumoconiosis.