Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 17-10: NIOSH approved P95 respirator (“poor man's gas mask”).
Photo courtesy of Approved Gas Mask
I use my P95 respirators whenever I am using spray paint, working with solvents, or deal-
ing with heavy dust and/or toxic mold. Since we live in wildfire country, they also provide pro-
tection from smoke inhalation whenever the smoke settles in thickly from nearby forest fires.
This style respirator has a soft rubber flange that conforms and seals against the face much bet-
ter than the cheaper cloth or paper type of particulate face masks. P95-style respirators would
do a decent job of protecting against breathing in radioactive contaminants in a nuclear disaster,
provided the strap is adjusted tightly and the mask conforms well to the face. Of course, they
will not provide the same level of protection afforded by a true gas mask, or hazmat mask, that
covers the entire face, including the eyes, or a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
There is a relatively new improvement to the traditional gas mask, which is a battery-operated,
air-pumping filter pack that pumps purified air into the gas mask via a flexible hose. By provid-
ing a “positive pressure” inside the gas mask, this design practically guarantees that hazardous
gases will not seep into the mask via a poor facial seal caused by facial hair, imperfect fit, loose
strapping, etc. (see
fig. 17-9
).
True “air-purifying respirators (APR), also known as gas masks, can be purchased through
safety supply houses, emergency-preparedness stores, or from specialty gas mask and protect-
