Are the exposure acronyms included on the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)?
Yes, and often the acronyms are used without defining what they represent. The most common acronyms seen are PEL (for the Permissible Exposure Limit), STEL (Short Term Exposure Limit) C (Ceiling Limit), and IDLH (for an exposure that is Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health). • What’s the shelf life for black/charcoal filters? Left with their original packaging intact, the charcoal filters can be stored indefinitely. Once opened, the cartridges should not be used if stored more than a few days, and then only if they were stored in an airtight container. • How does heat and humidity affect respirator cartridges? Humidity will decrease the service life of the respirator cartridge. Heat tends to decrease the service life of the cartridge because more of the contaminant is evaporated at a higher temperature. • What respirator do I wear during paint spraying? A NIOSH-certified half mask with organic vapor cartridges is the most appropriate respirator for normal paint spraying. The combina
