This article is about lightweight masks designed for light industry and other dust nuisances. For masks approved under stricter, more recent standards, like those preventing TB, see N95 respirator.
A half-face dust mask

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 standard available in the jurisdiction, is an example of a dust mask, being only certified to remove ~80% of dusts and mists.[3]

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.[4]

Description

A dust mask is worn in the same fashion as a higher-rated 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 higher-rated 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 higher-rated respirators.[5]

Regulation

See also: NIOSH air filtration rating § History

Europe has a standard for masks whose filtration efficiency goes at or below 90%:

  • The FFP1 standard allows up to 22% inward leakage and filtration efficiency of at least 80%.[3]

Some Asian countries have regulations for dust-grade masks intended for everyday civilian use as opposed to occupational use. These include:

Dust masks[6] have been certified by the United States Bureau of Mines since the 1930s,[7] until being phased out after the passage of 42 CFR Part 84.[8]

  • D or DM respirators, standing for 'dust' and 'dust/mist' approval respectively, without approval for 'fumes,' asbestos, radionuclides, or any certified (30 CFR) HEPA filtration.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "Dust Mask vs. Respirator". Michigan State University. Archived from the original on 2018-02-15.
  3. ^ a b https://www.moldex-europe.com/en/moldex-good-to-know/protection-levels-ffp1-masks-ffp2-masks-ffp3-masks/
  4. ^ "All you need to know about disposable dust masks". www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  5. ^ "COVID-19: Types of Masks and Respirators". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  6. ^ Harris, William B. (1957). "Personnel Protection and Personal Hygiene". In Sax, N. Irving (ed.). Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. p. 58.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Herring Jr., Ronald N. (1997). "42 CFR Part 84: It's time to change respirators... but how?". Engineer's Digest. pp. 14–23.
  9. ^ Spelce, David; Rehak, Timothy R; Meltzer, Richard W; Johnson, James S (2019). "History of U.S. Respirator Approval (Continued) Particulate Respirators". J Int Soc Respir Prot. Retrieved 2024-05-17.

External links