Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search


Español  Other Languages


An official website of the United States government Here's how you know
 Official icon**Official websites use .gov**
				A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Lock icon**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
				A lock (  ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
	CDC LogoCDC Logo
 Search

		×
			NIOSH
			NIOSH

				All CDC
				Submit


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Current Intelligence Bulletin 14: Inorganic Arsenic Respiratory						Print
																Related Pages
										September 27, 1976
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 78-127
Edward J. Baier Correspondence
Dear Colleague:
Because some inorganic arsenic compounds have a significant vapor pressure, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recently eliminated certain types of respirators from its list of recommended protective equipment for workers exposed to inorganic arsenic.
The NIOSH recommendations for an inorganic arsenic standard suggest particular types of personal respiratory protective devices as suitable for employee protection under defined conditions. The current NIOSH recommendations are:
Full face coverage — necessary to prevent eye and facial irritation. Half-mask respirators are eliminated from the list of approved devices.
High efficiency particulate filters for inorganic arsenic compounds that have no significant vapor pressure — to enable meeting the recommended standard of 2.0 μg arsenic per cubic meter of air as specified in the criteria document transmitted to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on June 23, 1975.
Air-purifying respiratory protection with an acid gas canister, as a minimum, for inorganic arsenic compounds with significant vapor pressure (such as arsenic trichloride) — to prevent exposure to greater than the recommended maximum concentration of arsenic due to the passage of volatile arsenicals through a high efficiency filter.
Engineering controls are recommended to maintain arsenic concentrations below the occupational environment limit. Compliance should not be achieved by the use of respirators except during the time period necessary to install or test the required engineering controls, for nonroutine operations (such as a brief exposure to concentrations in excess of the limit as a result of maintenance or repair activities), or during emergencies when air concentrations of arsenic exceed the limit.
We hope you find this information helpful.
Sincerely yours,*[signature]*
Edward J. Baier
Deputy Director
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  June 6, 2014						Source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
					Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate homeNIOSH Publications & Products
NIOSH-Issued Publications
Search NIOSHTIC-2 Research Database
Docket
Documents for Public Review
Peer Review Agenda
Databases
eNews
Federal Register Noticesplus icon
FRN Archive 2007-2010
FRN Archive 2005-2006
FRN Archive 2001-2004
FRN Archive 1996-2000
Press Releases and Updatesplus icon
Press Release Archives 2010-2013
Press Release Archives 2006-2009
Press Release Archives 2001-2005
Press Release Archives 1998-2000
Press Release Archives 1992-1997
Regulations
Regulatory Agenda
Science Blog
Software
Video Error processing SSI file  Follow NIOSH Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
YouTube
 NIOSH Homepage NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs
Contact NIOSH


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue