What's the Quality of This Respirator Filter?
November 13, 2022 10:54 AM Subscribe
I have a set of cartridges for a respirator. I'm trying to find more detail about what kinds of particulates they filter out.
What it says on the cartridge:
"Spray-Away and Agri-Tox Chemical Cartridge"
"No. 11P"
"For use with spray-away and agri-tox dust filter in low concentrations of agricultural insecticide sprays such as parathion or nicotine."
I'd like to use the respirator for lead filtration when sanding/scraping old paint from a room in my house. Will this cartridge do the job sufficiently, even if it's not sold for that specific purpose? Or do I need to buy a different style cartridge?
I have been unable to find a datasheet for the cartridge I have.
What it says on the cartridge:
"Spray-Away and Agri-Tox Chemical Cartridge"
"No. 11P"
"For use with spray-away and agri-tox dust filter in low concentrations of agricultural insecticide sprays such as parathion or nicotine."
I'd like to use the respirator for lead filtration when sanding/scraping old paint from a room in my house. Will this cartridge do the job sufficiently, even if it's not sold for that specific purpose? Or do I need to buy a different style cartridge?
I have been unable to find a datasheet for the cartridge I have.
Respirator filters can be exceptionally specific. Now, note, I am personally familiar with more arcane filters (mainly organic vapors, only occasional forays into heavy metals) but on the whole I am a firm believer in having exactly the correct filter for the particular application.
So I, left to my own devices, would go and buy a lead-rated model (eg: the 3M 8233 disposable) because a few bucks isn’t worth the risk; pricier and more arcane masks do not necessarily protect against “lesser” hazards. There is a cartridge that’ll work, I just don’t recall the 3M number at the moment.
[Also, remember washdown; don’t go tracking the dust throughout your house when you’ve finished for the day, etc. etc.]
If you want to be casual with your health, which again I don’t recommend, any competent P100 filter should suffice. But, again, me — I’d buy whatever 3M said.
posted by aramaic at 7:33 PM on November 13, 2022
So I, left to my own devices, would go and buy a lead-rated model (eg: the 3M 8233 disposable) because a few bucks isn’t worth the risk; pricier and more arcane masks do not necessarily protect against “lesser” hazards. There is a cartridge that’ll work, I just don’t recall the 3M number at the moment.
[Also, remember washdown; don’t go tracking the dust throughout your house when you’ve finished for the day, etc. etc.]
If you want to be casual with your health, which again I don’t recommend, any competent P100 filter should suffice. But, again, me — I’d buy whatever 3M said.
posted by aramaic at 7:33 PM on November 13, 2022
If it doesn't have any kind of government approval (N95, R99, P100, etc.) I wouldn't consider using it. An entire 3M respirator and particle cartridges (P100) is $30 US. A box of N95s is $20.
posted by meowzilla at 7:34 PM on November 13, 2022
posted by meowzilla at 7:34 PM on November 13, 2022
Response by poster: Looks like I'm in the market for some new cartridges.
Thanks for mentioning the number values, and the pointers about washing after the job is finished for the day.
posted by mr_bovis at 8:12 PM on November 13, 2022
Thanks for mentioning the number values, and the pointers about washing after the job is finished for the day.
posted by mr_bovis at 8:12 PM on November 13, 2022
How old is that thing? Searching the Interwebs seems to indicate that the product is dated all the way back to 1960s. Have yet to find any recent references to that brand for couple decades.
Generally the respirators designed to block sprays are specifically formulated to block droplets, not dust particulates. Do NOT use would be my recommendation.
posted by kschang at 11:18 PM on November 13, 2022
Generally the respirators designed to block sprays are specifically formulated to block droplets, not dust particulates. Do NOT use would be my recommendation.
posted by kschang at 11:18 PM on November 13, 2022
Response by poster: kschang: I don't know much about it except that the cartridge looks like it's in good shape. There's no date on the cylinder, and I don't have any other packaging.
I think your recommendation is a positive one.
Reading more into the subject, and looking at specific models, it seems there is some overlap between vapor filtration and particulate filtration. Cartridges appear to use carbon and other materials to manage vapors while cloth filters (like an N95 mask many of us are now familiar with) tend to deal with particulates. This is why you can see masks use both a cartridge and cloth together.
This showcase of a few products has been helpful as an overview:
https://www.leadabatementproducts.com/Lead-Respirator-Protection.php
posted by mr_bovis at 7:29 AM on November 14, 2022
I think your recommendation is a positive one.
Reading more into the subject, and looking at specific models, it seems there is some overlap between vapor filtration and particulate filtration. Cartridges appear to use carbon and other materials to manage vapors while cloth filters (like an N95 mask many of us are now familiar with) tend to deal with particulates. This is why you can see masks use both a cartridge and cloth together.
This showcase of a few products has been helpful as an overview:
https://www.leadabatementproducts.com/Lead-Respirator-Protection.php
posted by mr_bovis at 7:29 AM on November 14, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by snoboy at 3:58 PM on November 13, 2022