Air-Purifying Respirator No. 1: Particulate Respirators

The first type of air-purifying respirator is the particulate respirator. Particulate respirators capture particles in the air (like dusts, mists, and fumes). Particulate respirators do not protect against gases or vapors.

During use of a particulate respirator, particles will accumulate on the filter and fill in the spaces between the fibers of the filter. For this reason, employees should replace filters when it becomes difficult to breathe through the respirator.

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