What happens with dust when we breathe it in, where does it go?

Question

We breathe in dust all the time; dirt in the air, dead skin cells, smog, sawdust, etc. where does this all eventually go? It can’t physically all just build up or we would eventually suffocate right?

In: 48

Answer 1

It’s gets trapped in tiny hair like projections in the lungs called “cilia”. You produce mucus in the lungs and the cilla move back and forward and “sweep” the mucus with the dirt and dust trapped in it up and into your throat until you cough or clear your throat.