Q: I am inquiring into the possibility of developing a lung condition that might become worrisome. I clean a cat litter box several times during the day that I keep in a small bathroom bath tub. I have become aware of the dust that I am probably inhaling as I service the litter box. Could the dust inhaled into my lungs cause a health problem in the future? I refer to it as “litter lung”. I know the litter is very moisture absorbent and combined with the dust and moisture in the lungs could prove traumatic.

I have since started wearing a surgical mask when performing this task. I would appreciate any thoughts or advice that you might have on this subject.

A: Surprisingly, cat litter was first introduced commercially in the late 1940s. The first product was made of an absorbent clay product called Fuller’s Earth and was marketed under the name Kitty Litter. In the years since, manufacturers have made litter from numerous substances designed to reduce odors and still be effective. Litter on the market today may be made of wheat, paper, wood pulp, silica, corn cobs, clay or other products.

The most common type of litter available is made from clay. It is highly absorbent and soaks up liquid waste in an effort to reduce odors. Some clay products are unscented, while others incorporate perfumes in an attempt to control the odor of cat urine. The non-clumping varieties have large particles that absorb liquids relatively quickly. While it depends how many cats are using the box, non-clumping litter should be changed weekly. Clumping litter will allow the cleaner to remove only the soiled litter from the box, leaving the balance of the product intact.

Litter made from all natural products has no chemicals, perfumes or additives. These products are biodegradable, low in dust and environmentally friendly.

The smell of urine can be controlled rather well when the litter used is made from corn or wheat. Both bases are lighter than some other products on the market. There is minimal dust in the product, making it easier for pet owners who have asthma. Beyond that, all natural grains are considered safe for the environment.

Extra strength litter (please excuse me for raising an eyebrow here, but I am not a cat owner) is formulated to produce harder clumps in a litter box. When the clumps stay intact, the surrounding litter will remain cleaner.

Litter crystals are composed from silica gel. Each piece has a very porous surface and is covered with minute holes that are purported to absorb forty times their own weight in moisture. Crystals resist bacterial growth and are low in dust content, making this a better choice for owners and cleaners who may have respiratory problems.

The remaining choices include flushable litter which is pretty clearly understood, low-track litter that minimizes sticking to a cat’s paws, odor control litter that utilizes baking soda or similar ingredients, multi-cat litter for those households with more than one cat, pellets made from wood, recycled paper, or grain, and still more products.

Used cat litter can carry diseases such as toxoplasmosis from a cat. Recent media attention has referred to studies suggesting that toxoplasmosis is more prevalent in sand and litter than previously thought but there are no good studies on diseases from kitty litter itself.

Now that you’ve successfully been through the Cat Litter Course 101, there are no true reports on whether cat litter puts humans at an increased risk for health problems. You don’t indicate if the litter boxes you clean are your own or if you work for someone else. However, if you are concerned about the dust, I recommend you switch to a product made from wheat or corn, since neither contain sodium bentonite. You might reduce your exposure by continuing to wear a mask and using a large plastic bag you can slip the entire box into before tipping it up on end to empty it. In this way, any dust particles will remain in the plastic bag and away from your nose. To play it safe, explain your concerns to your primary care physician and ask him or her to schedule you for a routine chest X-ray to be assured there are no problems.