Did people get sick during the Dust Bowl?

Physical Health

Physically, the Dust Bowl inflicted pain in the lungs. Victims suffered from dust pneumonia in the lungs, “a respiratory illness” that fills the alveoli with dust (Williford). People were scared of breathing because the air itself could kill them (PBS, 14:45).

Did people get sick from the Dust Bowl?

Much like miners, Dust Bowl residents exhibited signs of silicosis from breathing in the extremely fine silt particulates, which had high silica content. Dust pneumonia, called the “brown plague,” killed hundreds and was particularly lethal for infants, children and the elderly.

How did the Dust Bowl affect people's health?

It is estimated that 3.5 million people migrated due to the Dust Bowl. Nine million acres of farmland were left abandoned, often with dust piled 2 to 4 feet high. The dust storms contributed to increased death from measles, meningitis, respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

How many people got sick from the Dust Bowl?

In the Dust Bowl, about 7,000 people, men, women and especially small children lost their lives to “dust pneumonia.” At least 250,000 people fled the Plains.

What disease did some people develop because of the Dust Bowl?

Dust pneumonia describes disorders caused by excessive exposure to dust storms, particularly during the Dust Bowl in the United States. A form of pneumonia, dust pneumonia results when the lungs are filled with dust, inflaming the alveoli.

What People Ate to Survive During the Dust Bowl

Why do I cough after inhaling dust?

You may not think it's a big deal when you breathe in dust, but for some people, it could bring on a lung disease called hypersensitivity pneumonitis. It's an allergic reaction to particles in the dust, and it can cause symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath.

What illness struck many children and adults that lived in the Dust Bowl?

The wracking coughs, fevers, and body aches of “dust pneumonia,” a form of silicosis that clogs and irritates the lungs, killed some within days, particularly children and older adults, and left others debilitated for life.

How did people try to survive the Dust Bowl?

People tried to protect themselves by hanging wet sheets in front of doorways and windows to filter the dirt. They stuffed window frames with gummed tape and rags.

How did they treat dust pneumonia?

There isn't any treatment that can remove the specks of mineral dust in your lungs. Instead, most treatments try to keep your lungs working. You may need to stop doing the work that led to your pneumoconiosis. If you're a smoker, your doctor will recommend you quit to improve your lung health.

What was it like being a kid during the Dust Bowl?

All the kids suffered from redness irritated eyes from all the dirt flying around. Dust gathered in people's bodies (especially in their lungs) over time, often leading to a disease called dust pneumonia. Kids were forced to wear masks and they couldn't go to school.

How long does dust pneumonia last?

If the person avoids further exposure to moldy dust, the signs and symptoms usually decrease after 12 hours, but they can last up to two weeks. Serious attacks can last as long as 12 weeks. The symptoms are sometimes confused with pneumonia.

Can you breathe in a sandstorm?

The effects will depend on how large the dust particles are. Larger particles can irritate the eyes and upper airways (the nose, sinuses behind the nose, and the trachea, or windpipe). In most people, these particles do not cause health problems because they are too coarse to move down further into the lower airways.

How did people get dust pneumonia?

It's caused by breathing in coal dust. Another is brown lung, which comes from working around dust from cotton or other fibers. Other types of dusts that can cause pneumoconiosis include silica and asbestos. Diacetyl, the compound used to give movie popcorn its buttery flavor, also can lead to the disease.

What stopped the Dust Bowl?

Although it seemed like the drought would never end to many, it finally did. In the fall of 1939, rain finally returned in significant amounts to many areas of the Great Plains, signaling the end of the Dust Bowl.

What is the most serious disease caused by dust?

Once inside the lungs, the dust particles can scar the lungs. This scarring is known as silicosis. Silicosis can lead to breathing problems, a serious lung condition called Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF), or lung cancer. There is no cure for silicosis and it can be fatal.

Can the lungs clean themselves from dust?

Lungs are self-cleaning organs that will begin to heal themselves once they are no longer exposed to pollutants. The best way to ensure your lungs are healthy is by avoiding harmful toxins like cigarette smoke and air pollution, as well as getting regular exercise and eating well.

Does dust ever leave your lungs?

These tubes are called bronchi and bronchioles. All of these airways are lined by cells. The mucus they produce catches most of the dust particles. Tiny hairs called cilia, covering the walls of the air tubes, move the mucus upward and out into the throat, where it is either coughed up and spat out, or swallowed.

What did people eat during the Dust Bowl?

Chili, macaroni and cheese, soups, and creamed chicken on biscuits were popular meals.

How long did it take to recover from the Dust Bowl?

Regular rainfall returned to the region by the end of 1939, bringing the Dust Bowl years to a close. The economic effects, however, persisted. Population declines in the worst-hit counties—where the agricultural value of the land failed to recover—continued well into the 1950s.

How did families live during the Dust Bowl?

Families who lived far from town were isolated by piles of sand on roads that were far from modern in the first place. Farmers could not grow crops to feed their animals or gardens to feed their families because of the drought, blowing sand, and blistering heat. People began to leave Oklahoma.

What happened to animals during the Dust Bowl?

Animals in the fields had no place for refuge. Cattle became blinded during dust storms and ran around in circles, inhaling dust, until they fell and died, their lungs caked with dust and mud. Newborn calves suffocated.

Why did people wear masks during the Dust Bowl?

To protect their eyes and lungs, people wore masks that made them look like they belonged on a World War I battlefield. To protect their fields (if they were lucky enough to grow anything), they sprayed them with cyanide.

How long did the Dust Bowl go without rain?

The entire region, already a semi-arid climate to begin with, endured extreme drought for almost a decade. Over the 11-year span from 1930-1940, a large part of the region saw 15% to 25% less precipitation than normal.

Does milk help with dust?

Answer. No, this will not effectively treat the effects of inhaling toxic or potentially toxic chemicals.

What is farmers lung?

​​​​​​​Farmer's lung is an allergy to moldy crop dust that makes breathing difficult. Untreated, it can cause permanent lung damage and death. It's an allergic reaction to dust from moldy hay, but any moldy crop can also cause the problem.