With the signing of the Customs Union agreement, and the adoption of the laws of harmonization with the European Union, quality certificates, which have become mandatory in all service sectors, are an indispensable priority especially for exports to be made abroad. Dust masks, which make a great contribution to human health, are one of the categories that must comply with quality standards, and it is a field that must have various documents. So what are these documents? EN 149: 2001 + A1: 2009 Certificate; EN 149 is an expression that symbolizes the standard given by the European Union to fog, smoke and dust masks that are among the applications that protect human health and are used one time without requiring maintenance. The expansion of these stages is as follows. The FF phrase is the English abbreviation of the face mask, accordingly; P1; environments where dusts generated in mechanical work do not contain harmful components P2: Environments with toxic dusts with MAC values ​​higher than 0.1 mg / m3 P3: Environments where there are toxic, carcinogenic, radioactive dusts with MAC values ​​less than 0.1 mg / m3. These standards determined by the Customs Union were renewed in 2001 within the framework of European Union harmonization laws and received the expression EN 149: 2001. CE document; It is a document that is sought in every product to be exported abroad, which conforming the standards set by the European Union. More precisely, it is an expression that should be written on the packaging of the product offered for sale. Of course, this phrase is definitely sought in dust masks. 11 A Quality Certificate; It is the type of certificate issued by the organizations that issue the CE certificate, which is one of the prerequisites for exporting to European Union countries, after the examination and tests carried out on the product taken as a sample, if it is in accordance with the procedures.

Masks produced according to the standard provide protection in 3 categories according to their filters. These are FFP1-FFP2 and FFP3.
FF- Face Filter (face mask)
Non-toxic dusts (coarse dusts arising from cleaning etc.) resulting from mechanical works with a P1-MAC value greater than 5 mg / m3.
Toxic (toxic) fine dusts, fumes and vapors (eg cotton dust, silica, many metal powders) with a P2-MAC value greater than 0.1 mg / m3 and between 0.1 mg / m3 - 5 mg / m3.
Toxic (toxic), radioactive, carcinogenic fine powders (eg asbestos, cobalt metal and dust, nickel, chromium, silver, platinum salts, tin compounds) with a P3-MAC value less than 0.1 mg / m3.

The maximum amount of chemicals that are allowed to be in the air of the workplace, and that won't harm the health of those who will work there for 8 hours a day is called the MAC value. MAC value indicates the level-limit that the chemical agent should never exceed in the environment. It is the maximum concentration of chemical substances that are allowed to be in a closed workplace for 8 hours a day and 45 hours a week, and without harming the health of users throughout the day. There is no MAC value for carcinogenic (cancer causing) substances. The MAC concept is mostly used for chemicals that have toxic effects. It is assumed that "Acute Toxic Symptoms" will occur if the MAC level is exceeded. If there is gas, smoke, etc. originating from iron, steel, soldering, casting, etc. in the environment, then active carbon masks should be used.

FFP1 Masks provide protection up to 4 times the threshold limit value of the pollutant in the environment (APF-Assigned Protection Factor 4 X OEL - NPF-Nominal Protection Factor 4 X OEL),
FFP2 Masks provide protection up to 10 times the threshold limit value of the pollutant in the environment (APF-Assigned Protection Factor 10 X OEL - NPF-Nominal Protection Factor 12 X OEL),
FFP3 Masks provide protection up to 20 times the threshold limit value of the pollutant in the environment (APF-Assigned Protection Factor 20 X OEL - NPF-Nominal Protection Factor 50 X OEL).

The Nominal Protection Factor is the theoretical protection level determined by the performance of the Respiratory Protective Masks during tests under laboratory conditions. The assigned Protection Factor is the protection performance level of the mask in an environment where at least 95% is adequately trained and the user is supervised. It is not easy to demonstrate, measure and follow APF Performance. However, these calculations were made on average values. APF Value was determined as 4 OEL for P1 filters, 10 OEL for P2 filter and 20 OEL for P3 filter. It is safer to consider APF values in mask protection level evaluations.

Dust Mask Usage Period is determined as minimum 3 hours and maximum 1 day, depending on the conditions of the working environment, air and the nature of the substances exposed. Nevertheless, they recommend replacing it every 8 hours. While the adaptation of the mask with the face, making it easier to breathe are among the most important points to pay attention to in terms of the duration of use of the Respirator Mask, monitoring whether sufficient oxygen cycle is realized in the environment is the most effective way to create a healthy respiratory protection system. Using the right mask in the right environment, taking into account the duration of use, makes a great contribution to the elimination of factors that threaten human health and to ensure work and life safety. In other words, it would be completely misleading and wrong to give a clear information about the duration of use of this or that mask. Because conditions and people are completely decisive in this regard, and the criteria always differ from person to person. For this reason, it is important to know how long the masks are effective, but the more precise criteria for users to be decisive by analyzing themselves and their environment correctly.

The valve is not a filter as it is known among the public. It is just a tool that provides comfortable breathing. The leaf inside the valve closes the vent hole while breathing and allows breathing through the mask ، While exhaling, it opens the vent hole and provides comfortable breathing.

Dust is defined for particles of various organic and inorganic materials that are formed during and as a result of abrasion, fragmentation, grinding, burning or mechanical crushing, shredding, drilling, grinding processes, whose size can vary up to 100 microns, and whose chemical properties are similar to the structure of the chemical substance constituting it. Powders are divided into two groups according to their chemical origin: 1. Organic Powders: a) Plant-based dusts (cotton dust, wood dust, flour dust, straw dust etc.) b) Animal powders (feathers, hair, etc.) c) Powders of synthetic ingredients (DDT, trinitro toluene etc.) 2. Inorganic Powders: a) Metallic powders (iron, copper, zinc dust etc.) b) Non-metallic powders (sulfur, coal dust) c) Powder of chemical compounds (such as zinc oxide, manganese oxide) d) Powders of natural compounds (minerals, clays, ores etc.)

Dust problem is encountered depending on the diversity of business lines and workplaces. Priority business lines in dust exposure are listed as follows.
Blasting, crushing, drilling and grinding works.
Mines.
Road, tunnel and dam construction works.
Casting. (sand and graphite).
Porcelain industry.
Brick and tile industry.
Marble industry.
Cement industry.
Welding works.
Glass industry.
Cotton textile industry.
Grain silos, flour mills and factories.
Tobacco industry.
Wood industry and furniture works.
Metal industry.
Iron and steel industry.
Sandblasting and scraping works.
Storage works.
Storage and treatment of surfaces.