Whether you’re a carpenter, professional spray painter, someone who deals with dusty rooms, or an artist, a dust mask could be incredibly beneficial. It offers protection if you are exposed to harmful substances on a daily basis. There are times when you need to wear a dust mask and this should always be kept in mind.
The idea of the dust mask is to prevent airborne toxins from entering your body while you can still breathe properly. If you don’t have one of these nifty items lying around, cover your mouth and nose with a piece of cloth for basic protection.
First of all, if you are using chemicals that need to be sprayed, it would be wise to put on a dust mask right away. This rule mainly applies to people who spray paint frequently. You can be careful and keep the spray away from your face, however there is still a chance that the wind could blow the chemicals onto your face. Side effects of breathing in a lot of paint are nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, and tightness in the chest.
If you are working with tools that generate very fine dust, you will need to wear a dust mask. Constant exposure to sharper and heavier materials, such as metal, can cause fatal damage to the lungs and airways.
You should also be equipped with a dust mask if you work indoors while doing physical work such as carpentry, polishing, painting, or sawing a piece of steel. Closed spaces tend to have more flying particles due to the lack of open spaces.
Did you know that working with Patina can be dangerous if your mouth and nose are not covered? The patina is a chemical that is released from copper. It is a blue-green substance used to age pewter. The technique is amazing and many artists enjoy making metal prints. Unfortunately, over time, the patina matures, making it sharper and more pungent. Be careful to allow yourself to use the corrosive chemical without a dust mask. The vapors can damage the lungs and eat away at the throat, as they are corrosive. You won’t get to this point quickly but you will notice dizziness and chest tightness before it becomes severe.
It’s best to get bulk dust masks from a wholesale supplier, especially if you have a workshop, art studio, or do your own projects that involve a lot of dust and airborne particles.