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Is It Hazardous To Breathe Metal Dust?

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Posted on Sat, 4 Apr 2015
Question: I was nailing a nail into a board there is an extra piece of nail sticking out i cut it with a spining tool sparks were flying. Im concern because im breathing in metal dust and metal shavings. Will it go in an scar my lungs and get cancer in future. Do our body have a natural defense to remove it from the lungs. Its not going to be lime abestoes is it? Where it will stay in your lung forever?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Natural defenses absorb the toxicity

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

You were talking about an exposure which is just seconds off. You were concerned about scar in the lungs which occurs after prolonged exposure to such fumes and chemicals. It generally is seen in Occupations like welders, carpenters where they are exposed to years and decades thus inhaling the foreign bodies and fumes.

So I do not think you should be worried about it for a shortest exposures even though they happen repeatedly. As you rightly said they get killed by body defense. So there is no chance of cancer with this incident.

Hope this answers.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2086 Questions

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Is It Hazardous To Breathe Metal Dust?

Brief Answer: Natural defenses absorb the toxicity Detailed Answer: Hi, You were talking about an exposure which is just seconds off. You were concerned about scar in the lungs which occurs after prolonged exposure to such fumes and chemicals. It generally is seen in Occupations like welders, carpenters where they are exposed to years and decades thus inhaling the foreign bodies and fumes. So I do not think you should be worried about it for a shortest exposures even though they happen repeatedly. As you rightly said they get killed by body defense. So there is no chance of cancer with this incident. Hope this answers.