Texas Pesticide Applicator Practice Exam

When are cartridge respirators often used?

1. For prolonged exposure without breaks

2. For short exposure to concentrated chemicals

3. Only during pesticide application

4. When indoors only

The correct answer is: For short exposure to concentrated chemicals

Cartridge respirators are designed to filter out specific contaminants from the air, making them suitable for situations involving exposure to concentrated chemicals. The appropriate use of a cartridge respirator typically involves short-term tasks where a worker may be exposed to hazardous chemicals, requiring a respiratory protection method that can adequately filter out those harmful agents. In contrast, prolonged exposure situations may require different types of respiratory protection because cartridge respirators can become less effective over time as the filters become saturated. Moreover, while these respirators are commonly used during pesticide applications, they are not exclusively limited to that context, meaning that their use is broader than just for pesticide application. Finally, using cartridge respirators indoors does not restrict their use—outdoor applications may also warrant their use depending on the exposure scenario. Therefore, the use of cartridge respirators is most aligned with short exposure to concentrated chemicals, making this the correct choice.