How do air-purifying respirators function?

Air-purifying respirators are designed to remove contaminants from the air you breathe, and they function primarily through mechanical filtration or chemical sorption. Mechanical filtration captures particles such as dust, aerosols, and other solid particulates using various filter media. On the other hand, chemical sorption involves the use of specific materials or chemicals within the respirator that can react with and neutralize harmful gases and vapors.

This dual-functionality is essential when considering the wide variety of airborne contaminants that workers might encounter in environments where hazardous materials are present. The effectiveness of these respirators depends on the specific type of filter or sorbent used, which must match the type of contaminants present to ensure adequate protection.

In contrast, options that involve providing fresh air supply or using oxygen tanks describe different types of respiratory protection devices, such as supplied-air respirators or self-contained breathing apparatus, which are used in scenarios where there is little or no oxygen available or when contaminants cannot be adequately filtered. These do not qualify as air-purifying respirators since they rely on external sources of breathable air rather than purifying the existing air.