A good seal on a respirator prevents what from bypassing the filter?

• A. Air leaking around the face
• B. Water entering the filter
• C. The filter becoming too heavy
• D. The wearer feeling hot

Answer: (A)

A respirator protects you only if the air you inhale passes through the filter, not around the edges. A tight seal around the face blocks gaps where air could slip in unfiltered, so all inhaled air is filtered. If air leaks around the face, unfiltered air bypasses the filter and protection is lost. Water entering the filter, the filter becoming heavy, or feeling hot relate to other issues (moisture, weight, comfort) and don’t address bypassing the filter through a poor seal.