Elastomeric half facepiece respirators are reuseable and have replaceable cartridges or filters. These respirators provide protection against gases, vapors, or particles. Different cartridges or filters provide different levels of protection. A medical evaluation, fit-testing, and special training are all required prior to use. | Filtering facepiece respirators reduce inhalation of both large droplets and small airborne particles (aerosols). An example of a filtering facepiece respirator is an N95. When used, these types of respirators must be NIOSH-certified. Special training is required prior to use, and in some cases, fit-testing and medical surveillance are also required. | Dust masks, or “nuisance” masks as they are also sometimes referred to, can be worn for comfort against non-toxic nuisance dust. These masks do not offer protection against hazardous dusts, or other hazardous airborne particles. This style of mask may be worn during activities such as mowing, gardening, sweeping of non-hazardous material, and dusting. | Surgical masks do not protect against small airborne particles (aerosols) but may prevent or reduce large droplets from splashes or sprays from contacting the area around the users nose and mouth. This style of mask is often worn for protection from bloodborne pathogen hazards when cleaning up potentially infectious material, in which case fit testing is not required. |