An organic vapor respirator, also known as a gas mask, filters out fumes from organic compounds to prevent inhalation of toxic chemicals. It uses activated carbon to absorb the fumes and is more effective than cloth or paper masks.
An organic vapor respirator is more commonly known as a gas mask. Respirators are devices worn on the face to remove or filter dust or fumes from the air, thus making the air safe to breathe. There are various respirators that can protect the wearer from dust, allergens, airborne viruses and bacteria, and even tear gas, but an organic vapor respirator is specifically designed to remove fumes from organic compounds.
The term “organic” is often used to describe or classify produce, meat, milk, and other agricultural products that have been grown without any synthetic chemical inputs such as fertilizers, hormones, or pesticides. The use of the word organic when referring to an organic vapor respirator has a completely different meaning, based on what chemists call organic or carbon chemistry. Organic chemistry is the study of chemical compounds that contain hydrogen and carbon.
Many organic compounds are quite toxic when inhaled, so wearing a vapor respirator would be a safety precaution for people working with such chemicals. A common place to witness this is in a beauty salon. Nail polish contains the organic chemical known as toluene, which gives it its characteristic odor; and nail polish remover, which also has a unique and easily identifiable smell, contains the organic compound acetone. Both toluene and acetone easily give off vapors into the air, both pose health risks, and neither should be inhaled. Workers in beauty salons can often be seen wearing thin cloth or paper masks, but these are not as effective as organic vapor respirators.
Wearing this type of vapor respirator prevents toxic fumes of organic compounds from entering the body through inhalation. Organic toxins that enter the body in the form of vapors can damage the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and throat, causing painful irritations. The most dangerous toxins are chemicals with vapors that do not cause irritation and may be less unpleasant to bear than having to wear an uncomfortable respirator or mask. These are the chemicals that are much more likely to be breathed in and start building up in the body’s tissues, where they can cause everything from cancer to infertility.
Organic vapor respirators work because they have a cartridge filled with activated carbon that the air must pass through before entering the body. This charcoal is able to attract and absorb the fumes of organic compounds and prevent them from being inhaled. Charcoal filters eventually fill up and need to be replaced. Paper-thin or cloth masks don’t remove organic fumes the way an organic vapor respirator with a carbon filter can, because they can’t chemically pull the vapors out of the air.
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