Can a Dust Mask Protect You From Asbestos?
Asbestos is very dangerous when it gets into the air and you inhale the particles. These particles can cause lung damage, respiratory issues and mesothelioma, which is a type of cancer. It’s often fatal and attacks the body very aggressively.
Not breathing in those particles is critical, and many people assume that a standard dust mask will be enough. It’s a heavy, stiff cloth mask that carpenters often wear when working with planers and sanders to keep from breathing in wood particles.
Asbestos removal is not a safe do-it-yourself project, even with a mask designed to handle it.
If you or a family member in Kentucky has an asbestos-related disease, including mesothelioma, Satterley & Kelley PLLC will be your trusted local law firm. Call our Louisville office at 855-385-9532 to schedule a free consultation.
Do Dust Masks Stop Asbestos?
A dusk mask is not enough to stop asbestos particles. Wearing a simple mask from Lowe’s or Home Depot isn’t going to give you the protection you need from asbestos particles or prevent you from developing mesothelioma.
Asbestos particles can go through and around a standard dust mask. Don’t assume that just having any mask on — or pulling the neck of your shirt up to cover your mouth — is enough.
Using a mask is obviously better than nothing, and although they may stop some particles, they’re just not sufficient to stop everything. Don’t trust them when dealing with asbestos.
Instead of a dust mask, you need a full respirator that filters all of the air before you breathe it.
The respirator should have a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorber) filter designed for use with asbestos. This has been shown to effectively protect people from the particles in the air, though it’s naturally best not to work with asbestos at all.
Why You Shouldn’t Use a Dust Mask Around Asbestos
Dust masks are great at what they’re supposed to do, which is blocking normal dust.
Think of it like cooking pasta. After it’s done, you pour the pasta and hot water into a colander. The pasta stays in it, and the water runs out of the holes, which are too wide to keep the water molecules inside.
A good dust mask should block ordinary household dust, pollen, mold spores, and sawdust. But asbestos fibers are far smaller and will pass through the dust masks you can buy at Home Depot or your local True Value hardware store.
If you lined up about 6,300 human hairs next to each other, they would be about an inch wide. You would need to line up about 840,000 to 1.4 million asbestos fibers for a row of them to be about an inch wide, according to InspectAPedia.
Do N95 Masks Protect Against Asbestos?
No, standard N95 masks are not strong enough to protect against asbestos.
While N95 and KN95 masks can be stronger than a standard dust mask, neither are effective enough to stop you from inhaling dangerous asbestos chemicals in the air.
The “95” in N95 and KN95 signifies that it’s effective in filtering 95% of airborne particles. But to protect yourself against asbestos exposure, you need a respirator with a HEPA filter rated P100 by NIOSH, which blocks 99.97% of airborne particles.
What Kind of Mask Should I Use If I’m Around Asbestos?
You shouldn’t wear a mask around asbestos. You need to wear a full respirator, which is worn over a person’s face. Some respirators may just cover the mouth and nose while others cover the entire face.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), respirators can be used to:
- Remove contaminants from the air (like asbestos fibers)
- Filter out chemicals and gases
- Provide air from another source, like an oxygen tank
Whether you use a half or full-face respirator depends on your exposure time and the level of asbestos in the air.
Keep in mind, protection can still suffer if the respirator doesn’t fit properly. Even a beard or goatee may prevent a safe fit. If you’re dealing with asbestos, respirators should have HEPA filters rated by NIOSH as P100. This will block at least 99.97% of particles in the air.
Before you buy a respirator for asbestos exposure, consult a reputable store specializing in safety equipment to ensure you get what you need. Do not remove asbestos yourself because by doing so you’ll make the area far more hazardous because you’ll release many more fibers into the area.
Call Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, Today for A Free Consultation
Have you developed mesothelioma or other such issues after being exposed to asbestos? If so, it is important to know your legal options.
We are your boots on the ground if you or a loved one suffers from an asbestos-related illness. Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.