What About Breathing Flour In?

[sknisley22]

I was diagnosed late last year so I'm still in the learning process. Basically everything I know is from reading books or forums. I don't have anyone around here to teach me and help me, so, if this question sounds ignorant, it's just because I still don't know a lot.

Anyway, I just recently started a new job. I work in an office at a plastics manufacturing facility. The office is in the middle of the factory, and I walk around on the floor a lot. Ever since I started working there, I have been extremely tired and some of my old symptoms have come back. I figured it was just because I was in an adjusting period from moving to a new location and starting a new job. I found out last week that they dust the rolls that the plastic goes on with a powdery substance. This is so the plastic won't stick to the rolls as they spin around. The rolls spin very fast so the powder is flung into the air, and it basically stays there so everyone is breathing it in (I know it gets in my office because every morning when I go in, I have to wipe the desk down because there is a light layer of the dust). When I asked, one person told me the powder was just corn starch, but another person told me it was a mixture of corn starch or baking soda and flour. I would say the corn starch probably makes more sense, but I'm just wondering before I go digging for more information, (assuming it is flour) would breathing it in even be a big deal? I wouldn't say I'm really ingesting it, unless maybe some gets in my mouth from breathing through my mouth? I'm not trying to be particular or ridiculous, but I was so sick for so long, I just don't want to go back there.

Any knowledge in this area would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Stephanie

[Lisa]

Flour can be inhaled through you nose and end up in the mucus and thus swallowed. The corn starch would not be an issue, but yes, the flour could. Perhaps you need to pinpoint the dust, or when you walk the flood, wear a mask.

[Ursa Major]

Last year I baked a cake for my husband for valentine's day, thinking that it might be okay. I didn't eat any or taste the batter, I was very careful. But I was sick for three days afterwards. The only possibility for getting glutened that time was because I was breathing in flour particles.

If inhaling a tiny bit of flour from baking one cake makes me so sick, being exposed to flour dust in the air for eight hours a day, five days a week would be catastrophic.

I am afraid the only real solution would be to find another workplace, otherwise you will never be well. I know, it is drastic, and not a nice solution. But it may be the only workable one.

[num1habsfan]

Yes, I have gotten sick from either someone in the family baking or going into a grocery store that was in the process of baking something (like dusting the tables or whatever). And I get sick during harvest season from breathing the dust in the air outside.

~ Lisa ~

[2kids4me]

I dont bake with wheat flour anymore, any gluten comes in the house already made (for hubby).

Kathryn got very sick from playing in an empty grain bin with her cousins, at her Uncle's farm.

She has also gotten sick from working with paper mache.

I have heard of drywallers (with celiac) needing to wear heavy duty masks (more than just the surgical) - or they get sick. Drywall has wheat in it.

Sandy

[wowzer]

I have been thinking that I'm getting gluten some how from my son who works at a pizza place. He usually goes straight down to the basement. I do let him wash his own clothes. I guess I need him to take a shower as soon as he comes home. I have been so careful with what I'm eating, but know I'm still getting glutened somehow.

[Tritty]

I dont bake with wheat flour anymore, any gluten comes in the house already made (for hubby).

Kathryn got very sick from playing in an empty grain bin with her cousins, at her Uncle's farm.

She has also gotten sick from working with paper mache.

I have heard of drywallers (with celiac) needing to wear heavy duty masks (more than just the surgical) - or they get sick. Drywall has wheat in it.

Sandy

Drywall has wheat in it! Well no wonder. I'm still learning - so a glutening to me so far is just a weird feeling and some bloating. My husband is in the process of finishing out basement (to give me a place to work out so I can stay healthy!) - we have drywall dust everywhere. I've been trying to figure out for 2 weeks what is making me bloat off and on...

He started mudding today - so hopefully he can get this all wrapped up soon then!