Dust mask

This article is about masks designed for light industry (like farming) and other dust nuisances. For masks approved under stricter, more recent standards, like those preventing TB, see N95 respirator.

Dust mask
A half-face dust mask
Other name(s)ND respirator, Nuisance dust respirator, Nuisance dust mask

A dust mask is a flexible paper pad held over the nose and mouth made for protection against chronically toxic nuisance dusts, like from occupational exposure to plant dusts like hay.[1] They are not intended to provide protection from most airborne hazards.[2][3] The European FFP1 mask, the lowest-grade standard available in the jurisdiction, is an example of a dust mask, being only certified to remove ~80% of dusts and mists.[4]

Dust masks are used in environments with dusts encountered during construction or cleaning activities, biological hazards from farming,[1] or sweeping. A dust mask can also be worn in environments with allergens such as tree and grass pollen.[5]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference farmer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Dust Mask vs. Respirator". Michigan State University. Archived from the original on 2018-02-15.
  4. ^ "FFP protection levels: FFP1 masks, FFP2 masks, FFP3 masks - Moldex Europe".
  5. ^ "All you need to know about disposable dust masks". www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-02-03.