Air purifying respirators use masks, filters, and cartridges to filter contaminants from the air. There are many types for specific uses, from disposable dust masks to heavy-duty respirators for construction and mining. They offer mobility but require adequate oxygen in the environment.
Air purifying respirators are special types of masks that cover the nose and mouth for the purpose of filtering contaminants from the air as a person breathes. These respirators are made up of three basic parts: a mask to cover the nose and mouth, a filter device and a cartridge. The mask itself has a container on either side of the mouth. The container contains the combined filters and cartridges. Breathing through the mask forces air through the canisters, which capture contaminants, such as dust or smoke, while the cartridge removes noxious gases or other vapors.
There are many types and models of air purifying respirators, all designed for specific uses. The simplest example of these, a dust mask, can be disposed of after one use. The half face design is often used for cleaning or working in areas with high concentrations of airborne dust. More complex designs, such as gas masks, can be used multiple times and might provide a shield for the eyes and upper face, or they might cover the entire head like a hood. Heavy-duty air-purifying respirators, such as those used in construction or mining, require specific cartridges, depending on which gases may need to be filtered.
Another type of respirator, a compressed air respirator, can handle two or more gaseous contaminants, filtering them through cartridges before supplying clean, breathable air to the user. The cartridges are manufactured to absorb specific contaminants and are color coded to help the user select the type best suited to their needs. Even air purifying respirators, such as those sometimes used in automotive paint shops, require specific filters, depending on the particles encountered in the environment where the user will be working. Typically, a small fan is used to draw in the air for cleaning.
Air-purifying respirators offer good mobility for the wearer because they are based on natural breathing and eliminate the need for a portable, contained air supply. The lack of a contained atmosphere means that air purifying respirators can only be used in an environment that contains enough oxygen for human survival. To enter any environment without adequate oxygen would require a respirator providing atmosphere with a supplied air supply.
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