I failed to use protection while scraping old paint off of a shed I am going to paint. The paint (two coats) is surely pre-1978. In the beginning I tried using one of those cheap white fiber masks. Since it didn't seal to my face and it seemed like I was breathing the outside air anyway I stopped using it. I observed while I scraped and was mostly unable to detect much dust (it was probably too small to see) in the air. Later I could see on the ground some fine particulate. I usually take precautions with most everything but for some reason downplayed the danger of this since it wasn't windy on the days that I scraped.

Now that I am almost halfway done I have a two-filter respirator like I should have been using from the start. After doing some web searches I have now scared myself to death. I also have developed a nasty cough (probably partly from the dust). I had chalked the cough up to my allergies at first (drainage into lungs) and the fact that I started doing some long, hard, and very aerobic bike rides which can also have the effect of building up phlegm in the lungs like it seems I have. I also had a strange headache last night that was isolated to the top right rear quadrant of my head. I've never had a headache like that before. It wasn't particularly bad or long.

My question is should I be very concerned? I figure I will make a doctor's appt to get tested when I am finished with the scraping. I am guessing I put myself through a light exposure because I have no other symptoms, but I still don't want to chance not knowing my exposure level.

Any advice is sincerely appreciated. =)