Many forms of surface preparation for painting involve abrading, such as sanding, wire brushing, scraping, and sandblasting. Inform your employer of your suspicions and ask for a correct and safe course of action. Vapors are the gaseous form of substances that are normally in the solid or liquid state at room temperature and pressure. Vapors are formed by evaporation. Solvent-based paints also produce vapors.
Mists are tiny droplets of liquid suspended in the air.
For example, both spray painting and powerwashing produce mists. Fumes are solid particles that are formed when a metal or other solid vaporizes and the molecules condense in cold air. Welding and electroplating create fumes. Biological hazards, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other living organisms that can cause infections if inhaled, are also a form of air contaminants. Gases are materials that exist as individual molecules in the air at room temperatures.