blowing particles into your skin

August 4, 2006 12:11 PM

Can particles from a high pressure air blower cause serious damage if they get inside your skin?

I was using a high pressure air blower to get some dust off of this project I was working on. I had my hand close to where I was blowing (not smart, obviously), and the blower spit some stuff out. I felt this stuff hit the back of my hand where my thumb is, and I think some of it went inside my skin. I don't want to be a hypocondriac or anything, but it itches where I got "hit". How concerned should I be?

As aforementioned, I'm not sure what this stuff was. A visible amount came out and onto the cloth material I was blowing. As fast as my reaction was, I stopped the blower.

posted by deep_sea_diving_suit to health & fitness (6 comments total)

If it went under the skin you'd see holes; it's probably just irritated.
posted by zeoslap at 12:14 PM on August 4, 2006

Funny, this topic is addressed in today's Straight Dope.

The column is about steam, but it talks about high pressure air also.
posted by Brian James at 12:16 PM on August 4, 2006

Most air compressor systems will produce quite a bit of water in the tank and distribution lines, especially in the summer, as a result of compressing warm, moist summer air, and then having it cool under pressure in the accumulator tank. Most systems have tank drains and perhaps drier canisters to try to control this, but in summer time, it's pretty easy for such automatic measures to become overwhelmed.

Using compressed air causes any water that is still in suspension in the compressed air to condense at the point of use, as the the pressure is released at the nozzle. There is always some contamination of this condensate with compressor lubrication oils, and metallic rust/scale from the distribution system. It's pretty easy to have tiny droplets of this stuff blown under your skin, particularly if the skin is already wet.

Nothing much to do about it, once it's happened, except make sure you've had a tetanus shot. The best strategy is to wear PPE (personal protective equipment), including gloves and eye protection, whenever you're working with compressed air tools.
posted by paulsc at 12:34 PM on August 4, 2006

Your body will push the stuff out over time. Nothing to worry about, unless you were allergic to the stuff or it was somehow toxic, but regular dust should not be a problem.
posted by caddis at 2:20 PM on August 4, 2006

I'd add to what caddis said that if it doesn't get pushed out your body has mechanisms for encapsulating it so it doesn't cause problems.

I've a feeling that there's still a bit of graphite from an automatic pencil lodged in the palm of my hand that's been there for over a decade. If it's innocent enough material it's probably more trouble than it's worth to try to get it out.
posted by edd at 3:47 PM on August 4, 2006

Steam, air, and oil injection are all very serious situations. All three can be pushed into the blood stream, causing strokes, limb loss, or death.

Air is the least likely to cause damage, because its usually not used at extreme pressure. Air bubbles in the blood are very serious problems though.

Steam is usually used for very large operations. If one of those big pipes rupture, injection is the least of your concerns.

Oil, as used in hydraulics, is the most common way to have an injection experience. One of my family members had a serious problem after attaching a hydraulic hose to a tractor.

Found this link:High Pressure Injection
posted by clord at 4:45 PM on August 4, 2006