Dust from sculpting, carving, and trimming LaDoll

Properly protecting oneself from LaDoll dust has been addressed several times in this forum, but not in this exact situation. My question is, do I need to take all the precautions such as mask, respirator, when I am sculpting or shaping my doll with an exacto knife or whittling knife? I am not sanding and producing dust, but carving the face, legs and torso a bit before I start sculpting and adding more clay. The clay comes off in curls or pieces and doesn't make dust. Should I wear a mask while doing this?

 

Thanks to all who took the time to read my question. I was sure this was the right place to post this question as so many folks on here seem to use LaDoll or other air-dry paper clay. I am sorry no one had an answer, but I will keep doing research on it. Also, I am sorry if this was the wrong place to post this question. I am still pretty new at this.

 

wilga ​and aneemal: It has been my understanding that LaDoll dust in and of itself is not toxic, but like all dusts and particles it can and will accumulate in your lungs if inhaled in significant amounts over a certain period of time. There is a name for the disease it causes, something that ends in "osis", but I can't remember it right now. I better rethink this whole thing, as I didn't cut my doll when it was still wet. It would have been much easier that way, but I didn't have the body totally done when it was still damp or wet. This is my first BJD, so it is taking me a long time to do each part. I had to do some carving and sculpting to get leg shapes, collar bone, bust, back, torso, all of it, to be in best shape I could, before I cut the legs off. I don't think I would do well making each part separately.....like making one leg and then the other. Having the limbs off and working on the torso doesn't sound appealing to me. I know many people do it that way. Thank you both for your responses. I really appreciate it.