Unless you have some underlining lung disease like Asthma, you will not experience any shortness of breath over a short period of time.
Pneumoconiosis is the result of exposure to dust particle over a long period time. This disease, like most occupational lung diseases develop based on the amount and size of particles you inhale and can't be exhaled.
For the most part, the larger particles, 5-20 microns in size, are filtered by the nose. However, the smaller size particles between 1-7 microns in size may make it to the air sacs or a alveoli level.
The lungs have some pretty cool defense mechanisms! Mucus helps you cough particles out of the body and Cilia, which are microscopic hairs that beat forward help push particles out of the lungs. Finally there are Macrophages that will engulf the particles and digest them (this is why asbestos fibers are so bad, the Macrophages burst when they try to engulf the fiber).
Here are some guidelines that I've come up with that may or may not be best practices to protest yourself:
Wear a high quality mask. I use one that covers you nose and mouth and delivers at least 99.7 percent filtration efficiency against particles. On a side note, some woods still have spores, biohazards, bugs, and contaminates in them;
Keep the mask in a plastic bag outside of your shop. Never keep the mast in the shop exposed;
I would say don't smoke. However, if you smoke, don't do so in the shop. Not only are you inhaling smoke you are inhaling the small particles discussed above;
Wear an apron and never bring it in the living area unless you are going to wash it;
If possible, remove your clothing before entering your living area. Most of the time this is not possible so dust yourself off with your mask on and remove your clothing to be washed in an area so you will not spread dust in your residence;
I am trying to get my hands around filtration and need to do some more research before I purchase a device.
Maybe by follow Respiratory Therapist can chime in here….
