Breathing in glass dust

[txguy84]

I started working at a window manufacturing warehouse about 5-6 months ago. I am responsible for counting broken glass that has been thrown into a bin. The bins accumulate dust from broken glass and sometimes I breathe it in. Obviously, this is unhealthy. So, I'm concerned about the effects it has done to my lungs and if it's reversible.

Thanks for any feedback!

[JCSC]

Crystalline silica is indeed dangerous (when inhaled) to animals and humans, but common glass is made using a silicate that is melted and cooled in such a way as to form an amorphous silica, which is not crystalline, and not dangerous when inhaled.
OSHA defines glass dust as a "nuisance dust" and generally benign.  
Of course, as is practical, dust of any material/type should not be inhaled regularly or in large amounts.

[cstlc02]

txguy84 asked about dust from broken glass NOT fiberglass.  So what is the answer as I would like to know the answer as well.  I accidentally broke a huge vase that shattered all over the floor and after sweeping and picking up the large pieces, I vacuumed up the dust and may have inhaled some of the dust coming from the vacuum vents. Should I be concerned about my lungs? What, if anything, happens? Will I be coughing up blood at a later time in my life?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.
If it is fiberglass it can affect the lungs. Because fiberglass breaks across the fiber to form tiny fragments, the tissue response is very different when these particles are inhaled. When fiberglass fragments are inhaled and deposited in the small air sacs of the lung, the alveoli close up and trap the particles. So always wear a dust mask in these areas to help avoid inhaling glass fibers. The damage can be assessed by lung function tests and futher damage can be avoided by avoiding exposure to the same.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.