Respiratory protection equipment (RPE) is a type of personal protective equipment (PPE) that prevents the wearer from inhaling dangerous substances such as particulates, vapors, and gases.

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The equipment works by filtering particles out of the air, by purifying the air through the removal of hazardous chemicals via a chemical reaction, or by providing workers with an external clean air source. In addition to protecting workers from dangerous substances, the latter type of RPE is used in situations where workers must operate in an oxygen-deficient environment or one that may become oxygen deficient.