DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive
From: Monona Rossol <0000030664c37427-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] How would you answer this student question?
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2021 13:23:48 +0000
Reply-To: Monona Rossol <actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**CS.COM>
Message-ID: 275938813.159972.1629379428560**At_Symbol_Here**mail.yahoo.com
In-Reply-To <0188F025-5AD1-4D27-A529-112628FE676F**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu>
"Splashed" on? Absolutely and the faster you get it off, the better. The masks are for particles. If you are handling liquids that evaporate, you need an elastomeric respirator with a cartridge for the type of vapor or gas that is being created (and probably a P100 prefilter just in case there are particles.
If you are wearing a mask and working with powdered materials or reaction-generated particles, if you are careful taking the mask off after a few hours and put it in a bag without contaminating the inside of the the mask with stuff from the outside, it should be OK to use again. This would not be true for extraordinarily toxic materials such as radioactive particles or carcinogens.
My opinion
Monona
-----Original Message-----
From: Ralph Stuart <ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**KEENE.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Sent: Thu, Aug 19, 2021 9:01 am
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] How would you answer this student question?
> >Are reusable masks okay in lab or only disposable ones because of chemical contaminants?
>
I'm not sure if you are thinking in terms of cloth or paper masks, but I would recommend that any masks that have been splashed on be replaced immediately. Cloth masks present similar challenges as other clothing worn in the lab. Paper masks are not likely to retain fumes, but also wear out fairly quickly. For that reason, new paper masks each class make sense to me.
Good luck to us all!
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Environmental Safety Manager
Keene State College
603 358-2859
ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu
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