Respirator (definition of)

A respirator is a device worn to protect the respiratory system from dust, fumes, vapors, and toxic gases. There are two main types:

air purifying: this employs a filtration device, which screens toxic elements from the air. It is the type used mainly in industry.

air-supplied: the device has its own air supply, usually from a tank. This type is used by hospitals, undersea divers, pilots and firefighters.

History

The first respirator was described by Leonardo DaVinci in the 1500; it consisted of a simple cloth dipped in water. In 1799, an early form was actually manufactured and used in mines in northeastern Germany. The first modern respirator was invented in 1848; "Haslett's Lung Protector" used a system of one-way valves and damp wool.

Asbestos abatement workers us mechanical filter respirators similar to Haslett's design. By law, they must have HEPA filters able to remove at least 99.9% of particulate matter down to a size of no greater than three-tenths of a micrometer (less than a third of the diameter of a human hair). Asbestos exposure has known links to mesothelioma and adequate protection when working with asbestos is vital to preventing asbestos cancer.