Assumed exposures and respirator selection guide for lead

ActivityAssumed exposureAcceptable respirator(s)
  • Work with hand tools only
  • Using power tools with dust collection systems
50-500 ug/m3 (low)
  • All respirators except disposable ones
  • Using power tools w/o dust collection systems
  • Working with lead mortar
  • Lead burning
  • Rivet busting
  • Clean up dry expendable abrasives
  • Moving abrasive blasting enclosures
500-2500 ug/m3 (medium)
  • Full face respirator
  • PAPR with a cape
  • PAPR with full facepiece
  • Supplied-air (airline) respirator with a continuous-flow regulator & a loose fitting facepiece with a cape
  • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs)
  • Welding/cutting/torch burning
  • Abrasive blasting
More than 2500 ug/m3 (high)
  • PAPR with a cape;
  • PAPR with full facepiece
  • Supplied-air (airline) respirator with a continuous-flow regulator & a loose fitting facepiece with a cape
  • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs)