ABSTRACT
The performance of particulate removing filters should not be affected by elevated temperature and humidity. Even if a respirator manufacturer used protective packaging to prevent contact of a particulate filter with an atmosphere of elevated temperature and humidity during shipment and storage, once the respirator's user removed the respirator filter from the protective package, the filter would be exposed to any atmosphere existing in the workplace. The respirator filter may be exposed to the workplace atmosphere for several days, even for several months. If the efficiency of particulate filters deteriorates during storage, the user would be at risk of overexposure to toxic air contaminants.
