DUST AND DISEASE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6541, 24 February 1928, Page 11

DUST AND DISEASE

During - warm weather there is always a mild epidemic of gastroenteritis—nausea, vomiting, - abdominal pains and slight diarrhoea. This is very often caused by contaminated i food, and dust is often to'blame for j this, states an exchange. Germs j and organic matter are blown about in the shape Of dust, and unless extra care is taken, contamination of food Is sure to result. Not only do we have diseases caused by swallowing dust-borne germs on food, but wo swallow them directly by breathing dirty air, especially if the nasal filtering apparatus is out of order, as Is tho case with people suffering postnasal growths. Dust in the house can also spread disease if too much dry dusting and sweeping is done, which merely stirs up the dust from one place to put it in another. With modem cleaning methods by vacuum cleaners there should be no extra dust during the cleaning operations. Most of the risks in factories can be traced to dust. Woollen and knitting mills require scientific ventila- ! tion methods, as the air in such places is full of particles of wool, and chest diseases are very common among the employees. Dusty occupations are unhealthy, and should be avoided If possible. When work must be done in a dusty atmpsphere, ; and tho dust cannot bo removed by suction fans, respirators should always be worn. Many ordinary coughs and colds, asthma, and more serious lung troubles may be traced to working in a dusty atmosphere. Engineers are only beginning to ap- ! preciate the ill effects of dust, and are finding that it Is worth every effort to get as dust-free an atmosphere as possible. Town-planning also has this object in view, by having as many trees and shrubs as possible which help to to act as dust filters.