This article is about paper dust masks. For respirators worn over the nose and mouth, see N95 respirator.
A dust mask is a flexible paper pad held over the nose and mouth by elastic or rubber straps for personal comfort against non-toxic nuisance dusts. They are not intended to provide protection from toxic airborne hazards.[1][2] The European FFP1 mask, the lowest-grade mechanical filter respirator available in the jurisdiction, is also used as a dust mask.
A half-face dust mask
Dust masks are used in environments with dusts encountered during construction or cleaning activities, such as dusts from drywall, brick, wood, fiberglass, silica (from ceramic or glass production), or sweeping. A dust mask can also be worn in environments with allergens such as tree and grass pollen. A dust mask is also used to prevent the wearer from inhaling dust or sand in a dust storm.[3]
A dust mask is worn in the same fashion as a filtering facepiece respirator or surgical mask, but it is dangerous to confuse them because they each protect against specific airborne dangers. Using the wrong mask for a job can present a significant and possibly deadly danger as many dust masks with widely varied levels of protection may look similar, and even masks that do not protect against dust at all. Misfitting masks are also a danger as they allow a material to bypass the mask entirely. A correct fit may not be as critical in masks that are intended to protect against splattering liquids or mists. Dust masks do not protect against chemicals such as vapors and mists. For this reason, it is dangerous to confuse dust masks with respirators used as paint masks.
Dust masks are a cheaper, lighter, and possibly more comfortable alternative to respirators, but do not provide certified respiratory protection, and may be more susceptible to misuse or poor fit. Dust masks and respirators usually do not contact the mouth, and therefore interfere less with speech than cloth masks that do contact the mouth.
Some dust masks include improvements such as having two straps behind the head (one upper and one lower), having a strip of aluminum on the outside across the bridge of the nose that can be bent for a custom fit, and having a strip of foam rubber on the inside across the bridge of the nose to ensure a better seal even if the aluminum on the outside does not fit.
Any mask that consistently covers the nose and mouth will reduce the transmission of contagious respiratory diseases. Snugly fitting dust masks generally provide more protection than loose cloth masks, but less protection than respirators.[4]
Regulationedit
Some Asian countries have regulations for dust-grade masks intended for everyday civilian use as opposed to occupational use. These include:
China, GB/T 32610:2016 – masks for daily protection
^"Do you know the difference between a dust mask and a respirator?" (PDF). University of Alabama at Birmingham. 2016-10-28. (PDF) from the original on 2020-03-29.
^"Dust Mask vs. Respirator". Michigan State University. from the original on 2018-02-15.
^"All you need to know about disposable dust masks". www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
^"COVID-19: Types of Masks and Respirators". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
^Harris, William B. (1957). "Personnel Protection and Personal Hygiene". In Sax, N. Irving (ed.). Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. p. 58.
^Spelce, David; et al. (2019). "History of U.S. Respirator Approval: Particulate Respirators". Journal of the International Society for Respiratory Protection. 36 (2): 37–55. PMID 32572305.
^"Numerous questions on filtering facepiece/dusk mask respirators". Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 2011-11-22.
External linksedit
Media related to Dust masks at Wikimedia Commons
November 24, 2023
dust, mask, this, article, about, paper, dust, masks, respirators, worn, over, nose, mouth, respirator, dust, mask, flexible, paper, held, over, nose, mouth, elastic, rubber, straps, personal, comfort, against, toxic, nuisance, dusts, they, intended, provide, . This article is about paper dust masks For respirators worn over the nose and mouth see N95 respirator A dust mask is a flexible paper pad held over the nose and mouth by elastic or rubber straps for personal comfort against non toxic nuisance dusts They are not intended to provide protection from toxic airborne hazards 1 2 The European FFP1 mask the lowest grade mechanical filter respirator available in the jurisdiction is also used as a dust mask A half face dust maskDust masks are used in environments with dusts encountered during construction or cleaning activities such as dusts from drywall brick wood fiberglass silica from ceramic or glass production or sweeping A dust mask can also be worn in environments with allergens such as tree and grass pollen A dust mask is also used to prevent the wearer from inhaling dust or sand in a dust storm 3 Contents 1 Description 2 Regulation 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription editA dust mask is worn in the same fashion as a filtering facepiece respirator or surgical mask but it is dangerous to confuse them because they each protect against specific airborne dangers Using the wrong mask for a job can present a significant and possibly deadly danger as many dust masks with widely varied levels of protection may look similar and even masks that do not protect against dust at all Misfitting masks are also a danger as they allow a material to bypass the mask entirely A correct fit may not be as critical in masks that are intended to protect against splattering liquids or mists Dust masks do not protect against chemicals such as vapors and mists For this reason it is dangerous to confuse dust masks with respirators used as paint masks Dust masks are a cheaper lighter and possibly more comfortable alternative to respirators but do not provide certified respiratory protection and may be more susceptible to misuse or poor fit Dust masks and respirators usually do not contact the mouth and therefore interfere less with speech than cloth masks that do contact the mouth Some dust masks include improvements such as having two straps behind the head one upper and one lower having a strip of aluminum on the outside across the bridge of the nose that can be bent for a custom fit and having a strip of foam rubber on the inside across the bridge of the nose to ensure a better seal even if the aluminum on the outside does not fit Any mask that consistently covers the nose and mouth will reduce the transmission of contagious respiratory diseases Snugly fitting dust masks generally provide more protection than loose cloth masks but less protection than respirators 4 Regulation editSome Asian countries have regulations for dust grade masks intended for everyday civilian use as opposed to occupational use These include China GB T 32610 2016 masks for daily protectionDust masks 5 have been certified by the United States Bureau of Mines since the 1930s 6 Since 1970 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration approves dust masks called a filtering facepiece in NIOSH jargon 7 A filtering facepiece is considered a type of respirator and an N95 mask is a filtering facepiece too 8 See also editMechanical filter respirator Nose filterReferences edit Do you know the difference between a dust mask and a respirator PDF University of Alabama at Birmingham 2016 10 28 Archived PDF from the original on 2020 03 29 Dust Mask vs Respirator Michigan State University Archived from the original on 2018 02 15 All you need to know about disposable dust masks www hse gov uk Retrieved 2022 02 03 COVID 19 Types of Masks and Respirators Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Retrieved 2022 03 26 Harris William B 1957 Personnel Protection and Personal Hygiene In Sax N Irving ed Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials p 58 Spelce David et al 2019 History of U S Respirator Approval Particulate Respirators Journal of the International Society for Respiratory Protection 36 2 37 55 PMID 32572305 NIOSH Approved Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators Retrieved 2022 03 26 Numerous questions on filtering facepiece dusk mask respirators Occupational Safety and Health Administration 2011 11 22 External links edit nbsp Media related to Dust masks at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dust mask amp oldid 1167689253, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
