If your work takes you to areas in which the air quality might be compromised, or when you undertake a project at home that exposes you to potential air contaminants, security should be your number one priority. Humans take over 20,000 breaths a day on average, and air is something we can not go without for more than a few minutes.
Since avoiding harmful air could not be possible for those who need to be in certain surroundings, measures must be taken to make breathing as secure as possible. A good dust mask may mean the difference between healthy breathing and permanent physical damage.
Exposure to dusts and other harmful materials in the air may lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD includes two important respiratory illnesses: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis inflames the lung airways.
After the body produces mucus to battle back, the airways become obstructed and breathing becomes more difficult. Emphysema destroys lung tissue and induces air pockets to form in the lungs. The lungs lose their ability to extend during the inhale/exhale procedure, and as air becomes trapped in the lungs, so you struggle to catch your breath.
It is apparent that short exposure to dangerous substances could lead to a lifetime of labored breathing and respiratory problems. Investing in a high-quality dust mask could help you breathe easy for several decades, even if you must work in environments where the air quality is inferior.
While looking for dust masks, look for your NIOSH approval rating. These ratings start with an N, R, or P to get non-oil resistant, oil resistant, and oil-proof filter, respectively. An N mask will not protect you from the existence of oil while a P mask will often last for 40 hours in the presence of oil aerosols.
The NIOSH rating also includes a numeric value. The number tells you the filter efficacy of the mask based on its capacity to block particles using a 0.3 micron diameter. The number is the percentage of effectiveness, therefore an N95 mask, for instance, is non-oil immune and can be 95% effective.
The proof is clear: exposure to contaminated air can result in irreparable lung damage. Sometimes the dangers are not apparent. A recent research revealed that employees in a crab processing plant had been at risk for respiratory disorders because of exposure to certain crab proteins while crushing shells, boiling, and separating crab claws and legs. So err on the side of caution: using a dust mask now could preserve your healthy lungs later on.
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