Direct answer
If you inhale construction dust, stop the exposure immediately and move to fresh air. Breathe calmly, avoid exertion, and gently clear your airways. Rinse irritated eyes with clean water or sterile saline, blow your nose lightly, sip water to soothe your throat, and monitor your breathing. Seek urgent medical help right away if you have trouble breathing, chest pain, severe wheezing, bluish lips, confusion, or you’re coughing up blood. See a clinician the same day if symptoms persist beyond 24–48 hours, worsen, or if you have known asthma/COPD—or if the dust might have contained silica, asbestos, or lead.
Why construction dust is risky
Not all dust is equal. Common jobsite dusts include:
- Drywall/joint compound (can contain silica, talc, mica)
- Cement, concrete, mortar, brick, tile (often high in crystalline silica)
- Wood dust (can trigger allergies/asthma; hardwoods are more irritating)
- Fiberglass/mineral wool (mechanical irritants to eyes, skin, lungs)
- Old materials that may contain asbestos or lead (serious long-term hazards)
Silica is especially concerning; repeated or heavy exposure can injure lungs. Even a one-time heavy exposure can trigger acute bronchospasm, chemical irritation, or an asthma flare.
Step-by-step: Immediate first aid after inhaling dust
Leave the area
- Get to fresh air right away. Avoid deep, forceful breaths; breathe normally.
- Loosen tight clothing. Sit upright.
Soothe and clear airways
- Sip water or warm tea to moisten the throat.
- Cough gently—don’t suppress cough completely; it helps clear irritants.
- Avoid smoking/vaping, strong cleaners, or fragrances for 24–48 hours.
Rinse eyes and nose (if irritated)
- Eyes: Flush with sterile eyewash or clean, lukewarm water for 10–15 minutes. Don’t rub.
- Nose: Use a saline spray or a nasal rinse bottle/neti with sterile or distilled water. Blow gently—no forceful blowing.
Skin and clothing
- Remove dusty clothing; shower to remove residue from skin and hair. Wash clothes separately on a full cycle.
Monitor symptoms for 24–48 hours
- Watch for increased cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness, fever, or coughing up colored mucus or blood.
- If you have a pulse oximeter at home, check SpO2 at rest; values consistently below ~94% (or a drop >3% from your normal) warrant medical advice.
Tools and materials that help
- Respiratory protection:
- Disposable N95s for light dust; better yet a half-face elastomeric respirator with P100 filters for silica/fine dust.
- Eye/face protection:
- Safety glasses or sealed goggles; eyewash bottle for the shop truck.
- Rinses and hydration:
- Sterile saline eyewash and nasal saline (distilled water only for neti-style rinses). Bottled water for sipping.
- Cleanup and air control:
- HEPA shop vacuum/dust extractor; wet/dry microfiber cloths; pump sprayer or spray bottle for misting surfaces before wipe-down.
- Air scrubber or HEPA room air purifier for small spaces during/after work.
- Monitoring (optional but useful):
- PM2.5 air quality monitor; pulse oximeter.
Respirator & exposure quick specs
- N95/P95: ≥95% filtration of 0.3 µm; APF 10
- P100: ≥99.97% filtration of 0.3 µm; APF 10
- OSHA PEL (respirable crystalline silica): 50 µg/m³ (8‑hr TWA)
Typical costs: N95 box $15–30; half-face respirator $30–60 + P100 filters $15–30; HEPA dust extractor $250–600; air scrubber $350–1000 (rental $30–50/day); saline rinse $5–15; eyewash $8–20.
When to seek medical help
Call emergency services now if you have:
- Severe shortness of breath, chest pain, or rapid worsening symptoms
- Noisy breathing/stridor, bluish lips/face, confusion, fainting
- Coughing up blood
- A severe asthma/COPD flare that isn’t improving with your inhaler
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction (throat tightness, hives, swelling)
Same-day evaluation (urgent care/clinic) if:
- Persistent cough, wheeze, chest tightness, or shortness of breath beyond 24–48 hours
- Fever, thick discolored sputum, or rib pain from coughing
- You’re pregnant, have heart/lung disease, are immunocompromised, or you’re a child/older adult
- Exposure likely involved silica-rich dust, fiberglass, or you suspect asbestos or lead
Cleanup and prevention (best practices)
- Control dust at the source:
- Use tools with shrouds paired to a HEPA dust extractor (e.g., grinders, sanders, rotary hammers).
- Wet methods: mist before scraping/sweeping; use wet saws for tile/cement board.
- Contain the work area:
- Plastic sheeting and a zipper door, close HVAC returns, slight negative pressure with an air scrubber.
- Clean the right way:
- HEPA vacuum first, then damp wipe. Avoid dry sweeping or compressed air.
- Protect yourself every time:
- Fit-check respirators (no facial hair under the seal). Change filters when breathing becomes harder or after heavy use. Store in a sealed bag.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Staying in the dusty area “to finish the cut” instead of stepping out
- Dry sweeping or using a leaf blower—this just re-aerosolizes fine particles
- Rubbing irritated eyes or using unsterile water for nasal rinse
- Relying on a standard shop vac without a true HEPA filter
- Wearing a mask under the nose or over facial hair
When to call a professional
- Suspected asbestos (old vinyl tile, popcorn ceiling, pipe wrap) or lead paint dust: stop work, seal off the area, and contact a licensed abatement contractor.
- Large silica-generating tasks (grinding, tuckpointing, concrete cutting) without proper OSHA-compliant controls: hire a pro with the right shrouds, extractors, and respirators.
Quick example
Drywall sanding without dust control leaves you coughing and with scratchy eyes. Step outside for fresh air, sip water, flush eyes with saline, use a saline nasal spray, and monitor. Clean the room with a HEPA vacuum and damp wipe. Next time, attach a dust-extractor sander to a HEPA unit and wear a well-fitted N95 or a P100 half-face respirator.