Air purifying respirators protect applicators from pesticide exposure by:

• A. Filtering and/or absorbing the pesticide
• B. Providing oxygen from a tank
• C. Neutralizing pesticides with chemicals
• D. Ventilating the work area

Answer: (A)

Air purifying respirators protect by pulling contaminated air through filters or cartridges that trap particles or absorb vapors, so the wearer breathes cleaner air. The filtering media captures dusts and powders, while cartridges (often with activated carbon) absorb pesticide vapors. They reduce the inhaled concentration of the chemical, but they do not add oxygen, so they aren’t used in oxygen-deficient environments. They also don’t neutralize pesticides or ventilate the area—ventilation is a separate control, not part of the respirator’s mechanism.