Serious question, are bone dust particles an actual health risk or is it overblown?

I was reading through some old USDA guidelines last night (real thrilling stuff, I know) and found a stat that said something like 60% of bone dust from saws is small enough to float in the air for hours. That surprised me because I've been working in a shop for 8 years and we never wear masks during cutting. On one side, I've never had a problem and neither has any butcher I know. But on the other side, that's a lot of tiny particles going into your lungs every day. Has anyone here actually changed their setup because of this, or do you think it's just one of those things they warn about that never happens?

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stellat8719h ago

Yeah I hear you on this one. I had a coworker who never wore a mask and ended up with chronic sinus issues that his doctor linked to years of inhaling fine bone dust. It's not that it kills you fast, it's just a slow buildup thing that can mess with your lungs and sinuses over decades. I switched to a simple N95 during cutting about two years ago and honestly it's not that big of a hassle once you get used to it. That 60% stat you found is exactly what made me change my mind too. You probably won't notice a problem right away but it's the kind of thing that can creep up on you later.