Breathing in flour dust can cause the following health conditions:
Occupational asthma - Breathing in flour dust can cause a person to develop an allergic reaction (respiratory sensitisation). Symptoms may include coughing, wheezing and chest tightness. Once a person has become sensitised to flour dust, it can trigger asthma symptoms when breathed in (occupational asthma). A person may have been at their place of work for weeks, months or even years before they start having asthma symptoms.
Among all occupations, bakers have the second highest incidence rate of occupational asthma as reported by chest physicians.
The health risks from flour dust are insignificant when exposure is adequately controlled but once a person is sensitised, even small exposures to flour dust can trigger an asthmatic attack. Not everyone who becomes sensitised goes on to develop asthma.
Rhinitis (inflammation of the inside of the nose) – a condition that results in a runny or stuffy nose and generally makes breathing more difficult. Rhinitis can be a sign of developing occupational asthma.
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