What is the difference between nuisance dust and hazardous dust?

Nuisance dust generally refers to airborne particles that are not regulated as a substance-specific toxic contaminant but may still irritate the eyes, nose, throat or respiratory system at sufficient concentrations. Hazardous dust, or process dust, may contain harmful chemicals, combustible materials or toxic metals that create greater hazardous exposure risks. Understanding this distinction is important when evaluating industrial air quality and selecting appropriate dust collection strategies.