Acid Gas Respirator Cartridges

Identifying the Acid Gas Class and Whether Particulate Co-Exposure Requires a Combination Cartridge

Acid gas respirator cartridges protect against hydrogen chloride, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, and related acid vapors — hazards common in chemical processing, water treatment, plating operations, semiconductor manufacturing, and laboratory environments. The first decision is whether the specific acid gas present is covered by the cartridge chemistry selected. The second is whether organic vapor or particulate co-exposure requires a combination cartridge rather than an acid gas cartridge alone.

Quick Picks

Model	Pick	Key Spec	Price
3M 6002	Best Overall — AG only	AG, 6000/7000 series	$23.24
3M 60922	Best AG/P100 Combination	AG + P100, 6000/7000	$39.89
3M 6003	Best OV + AG Combination	OV/AG, 6000/7000	$19.75
3M 60923	OV + AG + P100 All-in-One	OV/AG + P100, 6000/7000	$20.99
3M 2096	P100 + Nuisance AG	P100/Nuisance AG filter	$19.04

Acid gas respirator cartridges use impregnated activated carbon chemistries specifically designed to adsorb inorganic acid vapors — primarily hydrogen chloride (HCl), chlorine (Cl₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), hydrogen fluoride (HF), and hydrogen bromide (HBr). These hazards arise in water and wastewater treatment, chlorination operations, chemical manufacturing, metal pickling and etching, semiconductor fab operations, and battery manufacturing. This collection includes standalone acid gas cartridges for acid-only environments and combination acid gas/OV and acid gas/P100 cartridges for environments with multiple simultaneous hazards. Acid gas cartridges are not organic vapor cartridges — they address different chemical classes and must be selected based on the specific acid vapors present on the SDS.

Decision 1: Which Acid Gas Is Present — Coverage Is Not Universal

Standard acid gas cartridges (3M 6002) are approved for hydrogen chloride, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen fluoride at concentrations below their IDLH. Not all acid gases are covered by standard AG cartridges: hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) at concentrations above their IDLH require specific NIOSH-approved cartridges or supplied-air respirators. Chlorine dioxide, a strong oxidizer used in water treatment bleaching, is covered at nuisance levels only in some cartridge formulations. Nitric acid vapor has limited activated carbon adsorption and may not be reliably covered — always verify against the specific manufacturer approval table for each acid gas present in the facility.')}

Decision 2: Acid Gas Alone vs. OV/AG or AG/P100 Combination

In chemical processing environments, acid gas exposure rarely occurs in isolation. Organic solvent vapors, aerosols from chemical mixing, and particulate from powder handling commonly co-occur with acid gas exposure. A standalone acid gas cartridge (3M 6002) provides no protection against organic vapor or particulate. For organic solvent co-exposure, the 3M 6003 OV/AG combination cartridge provides both classes. For environments where particulate is also present — acid mist from plating tanks, aerosols from spray-applied chemicals — the 3M 60922 AG/P100 combination or 3M 60923 OV/AG/P100 cartridge is required. Conduct a full hazard assessment for all airborne contaminants in the work area before selecting a single-class acid gas cartridge.

Decision 3: IDLH Limits and When APR Is Not Sufficient

Air-purifying respirators with acid gas cartridges have an assigned protection factor of 10 (half-mask) or 50 (full-face). If acid gas concentrations exceed 10× the OEL for a half-mask configuration, a full-face respirator or higher-APF system is required. In atmospheres at or above the IDLH — which for chlorine is 10 ppm, for HCl is 50 ppm, for SO₂ is 100 ppm — no cartridge-type air-purifying respirator is permitted: only self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) in pressure-demand mode or supplied-air respirators in pressure-demand mode with SCBA escape cylinder satisfy OSHA entry requirements. Cartridge-type AG protection is limited to sub-IDLH environments with known and characterized chemical concentrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What acid gases does the 3M 6002 cartridge protect against?

The 3M 6002 is NIOSH-approved for hydrogen chloride, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, chlorine dioxide (at nuisance levels), and hydrogen fluoride. It is compatible with 3M 6000 and 7000 series half-mask and full-face respirators. Check the 3M approval table for specific concentration limits — some acid gases are approved at concentrations below the IDLH only, and concentrations approaching or exceeding IDLH require supplied-air or SCBA regardless of cartridge type.

Does an acid gas cartridge protect against hydrogen sulfide?

Standard acid gas cartridges provide limited protection against low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. H₂S has an IDLH of 50 ppm — above this level, only SCBA is permitted. At sub-IDLH concentrations, cartridge manufacturers may list H₂S in their approval table, but the adsorptive capacity of standard AG cartridges for H₂S is lower than for HCl or SO₂, meaning service life is shorter and change schedule must be more conservative. At high concentrations in enclosed spaces, assume IDLH conditions and use SCBA.

What is the difference between the 3M 6002 and the 3M 6003?

The 3M 6002 is an acid gas-only cartridge. The 3M 6003 is an organic vapor plus acid gas combination cartridge that provides protection against both chemical classes in a single cartridge. Use the 6003 in environments where both OV and AG are present simultaneously. Use the 6002 in environments where only acid gas exposure is present, as the simpler AG-only cartridge has lower breathing resistance and typically lower cost.

Do acid gas cartridges have a visible indicator for breakthrough?

No. Activated carbon cartridges for acid gas have no color-change or visual breakthrough indicator. Hydrogen chloride and chlorine have detectable odor thresholds below their TLV, which provides some olfactory warning of breakthrough, but relying on smell is not a NIOSH-compliant change schedule method. OSHA 1910.134 requires an objective change schedule based on measured concentrations and manufacturer service life data for the specific acid gas at those concentrations.

Are acid gas cartridges appropriate for use in water treatment chlorination rooms?

Yes, within the limitation of the APF. Chlorine IDLH is 10 ppm. A half-mask APR with an acid gas cartridge (APF 10) is appropriate at chlorine concentrations below 1 ppm (10% of the IDLH at the maximum APF). For higher concentrations approaching or exceeding 1 ppm with a half-mask, upgrade to a full-face respirator (APF 50). At concentrations at or above the IDLH, only SCBA is permitted. Ensure the atmospheric monitoring system is operational and the change schedule accounts for chlorine service life, which is shorter than for most solvents at equivalent concentrations.

Can I use an acid gas cartridge for hydrofluoric acid (HF)?

3M 6002 and similar AG cartridges are approved for hydrogen fluoride. HF is a particularly hazardous acid: at concentrations well below IDLH, dermal contact causes systemic toxicity from fluoride ion absorption, and inhalation exposure at concentrations near the TLV (0.5 ppm as F) requires careful monitoring. The IDLH for HF is 30 ppm. Given HF's extreme systemic hazard, the selection of an APR vs. supplied-air respirator should be made with industrial hygiene input, not based solely on cartridge approval tables.

Is the 3M 2096 nuisance acid gas filter the same as a full acid gas cartridge?

No. The 3M 2096 is a P100 particulate filter with a thin nuisance-level acid gas relief layer — it reduces acid gas concentrations below their odor threshold but does not provide TLV-level protection. It cannot be substituted for a full acid gas cartridge (3M 6002) in environments where acid gas concentrations may approach the TLV. The 2096 is appropriate when particulate is the primary hazard and acid gas is present only at nuisance levels, below 10% of the TLV.

What OSHA standard governs acid gas respirator selection?

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 governs the respiratory protection program including hazard assessment, respirator selection, medical evaluation, fit testing, and change schedule requirements. For specific substances, substance-specific standards apply: OSHA 1910.1024 (beryllium), 1910.1025 (lead), 1910.1028 (benzene), and others — some specify minimum respirator types and APF requirements that supersede the general selection from 1910.134. Always check for a substance-specific standard before relying solely on 1910.134 for cartridge selection.

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Honeywell North 7582P100L Acid gas / P100 Cartridge — North Bayonet

Honeywell North

$50.60 - $50.60

$50.60

$50.60 - $50.60

$50.60

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.5/5WC Safety Review — Honeywell North 7582P100L Acid gas/P100 Cartridge Best For: acid gas with dust or mist in one cartrid...

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Honeywell North N75002L Respirator Cartridge (view 2)

Honeywell North N75002L Acid Gas Cartridge — North Bayonet Respirator Cartridge

Honeywell North

$27.00 - $27.00

$27.00

$27.00 - $27.00

$27.00

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3M 6007 Mercury Vapor / Organic Vapor / Acid Gas Respirator Cartridge

$39.04 - $39.04

$39.04

$39.04 - $39.04

$39.04

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MSA Advantage GMC/P100 Respirator Cartridge — Organic Vapor And Acid Gas/P100 (MSA Advantage)

MSA Safety

$47.00 - $47.00

$47.00

$47.00 - $47.00

$47.00

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.6/5WC Safety Review — MSA Advantage GMC/P100 Respirator Cartridge Best For: organic vapor and acid gas with dust in one car...

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MSA Advantage GMB/P100 Respirator Cartridge — Acid Gas/P100 (MSA Advantage)

MSA Safety

$33.82 - $33.82

$33.82

$33.82 - $33.82

$33.82

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.5/5WC Safety Review — MSA Advantage GMB/P100 Respirator Cartridge Best For: acid gas with dust in one cartridge on MSA Adva...

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MSA Advantage GMC Respirator Cartridge — Organic Vapor And Acid Gas (MSA Advantage)

MSA Safety

$34.00 - $34.00

$34.00

$34.00 - $34.00

$34.00

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.6/5WC Safety Review — MSA Advantage GMC Respirator Cartridge Best For: organic vapor and acid gas exposure with little or n...

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MSA Advantage GMB Respirator Cartridge — Acid Gas (MSA Advantage)

MSA Safety

$23.90 - $23.90

$23.90

$23.90 - $23.90

$23.90

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.5/5WC Safety Review — MSA Advantage GMB Respirator Cartridge Best For: acid gas exposure with little or no dust on MSA Adva...

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Gerson G73 OV/AG/P100 Combination Respirator Cartridge

Gerson

$19.99 - $19.99

$19.99

$19.99 - $19.99

$19.99

The Gerson G73 is a NIOSH-approved combination cartridge delivering organic vapor, acid gas, and P100 particulate filtration in a single installed ...

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Gerson G78 Multi-Gas P100 Cartridge for Half and Full Face Respirators

Gerson

$24.99 - $24.99

$24.99

$24.99 - $24.99

$24.99

Disclosures & editorial standardsWC Safety participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Outbound Amazon links are affiliate lin...

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3M Secure Click D9093CB Respirator Filter

3M Secure Click D9093CB P100 Hard Case Filter with Nuisance Acid Gas Relief, Case/144

$1,136.79 - $1,136.79

$1,136.79

$1,136.79 - $1,136.79

$1,136.79

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.4/5 WC Safety Review — 3M Secure Click D9093CB P100 Hard Case Filter with Nuisance Acid Gas Relief, Case/144 ...

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3M Secure Click D3096 P100 Filter with Nuisance Acid Gas Relief

$26.03 - $26.03

$26.03

$26.03 - $26.03

$26.03

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.4/5 WC Safety Review — 3M Secure Click D3096 P100 Filter with Nuisance Acid Gas Relief Best For: P100 parti...

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3M Secure Click D80923 Respirator Cartridge

3M Secure Click D80923 P100 OV/AG Combination Cartridge

$61.12 - $61.12

$61.12

$61.12 - $61.12

$61.12

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.5/5 WC Safety Review — 3M Secure Click D80923 P100 OV/AG Combination Cartridge Best For: Triple-class prote...

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3M Secure Click D8003 Respirator Cartridge

3M Secure Click D8003 Organic Vapor and Acid Gas Cartridge

$8.32 - $8.32

$8.32

$8.32 - $8.32

$8.32

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.4/5 WC Safety Review — 3M Secure Click D8003 OV/Acid Gas Cartridge Best For: Organic vapor plus acid gas pr...

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3M Secure Click D80926 Respirator Cartridge

3M Secure Click D80926 Multi-Gas/Vapor P100 Combination Cartridge, 1 Pair

$46.95 - $46.95

$46.95

$46.95 - $46.95

$46.95

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.6/5 WC Safety Review — 3M Secure Click D80926 Multi-Gas/Vapor P100 Combination Cartridge Best For: Full-spe...

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GVS SPR474 OV/AG/P100 NIOSH Replacement Filters – Bayonet Mount Combination Filter Pair

GVS Elipse SPR474 OV/AG/P100 Replacement Filters – Organic Vapor, Acid Gas & P100 Dust Filter Pair

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$26.85 - $26.85

$26.85

$26.85 - $26.85

$26.85

NIOSH Tri-Class Protection — Organic Vapor, Acid Gas, and P100 Particulate in a Single Bayonet Filter The GVS Elipse SPR474 OV/AG/P100 Replacemen...

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MSA GMC/P100 Respirator Cartridge — Organic Vapor And Acid Gas/P100 (MSA Comfo)

MSA Safety

$46.47 - $46.47

$46.47

$46.47 - $46.47

$46.47

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MSA GMB/P100 Respirator Cartridge — Acid Gas/P100 (MSA Comfo)

MSA Safety

$218.22 - $218.22

$218.22

$218.22 - $218.22

$218.22

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.5/5WC Safety Review — MSA GMB/P100 Respirator Cartridge Best For: acid gas with dust in one cartridge on MSA Comfo respirat...

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MSA GMC Respirator Cartridge — Organic Vapor And Acid Gas (MSA Comfo)

MSA Safety

$103.45 - $103.45

$103.45

$103.45 - $103.45

$103.45

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.6/5WC Safety Review — MSA GMC Respirator Cartridge Best For: organic vapor and acid gas exposure with little or no dust on ...

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MSA GMB Respirator Cartridge — Acid Gas (MSA Comfo)

MSA Safety

$147.64 - $147.64

$147.64

$147.64 - $147.64

$147.64

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.5/5WC Safety Review — MSA GMB Respirator Cartridge Best For: acid gas exposure with little or no dust on MSA Comfo respirat...

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Moldex 2500N95 N95 Disposable Respirator — Nuisance Acid Gas + Valve

Moldex

$18.99 - $18.99

$18.99

$18.99 - $18.99

$18.99

WC Safety Editorial Pick — Moldex 2500N95 N95 with nuisance acid gas layer and exhale valve — for dust + light acid gas odor. Read our full review...

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3M Versaflo TR-6320N Acid Gas/HE Cartridge for TR-600/TR-800

$158.27 - $158.27

$158.27

$158.27 - $158.27

$158.27

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3M Versaflo TR-6530N OV/Acid Gas/HE Cartridge — 5-Pack

$600.67 - $600.67

$600.67

$600.67 - $600.67

$600.67

The 3M Versaflo TR-6530N OV/Acid Gas/HE Cartridge is a 5-pack of replacement cartridges for the 3M Versaflo TR-600 and TR-800 PAPR systems — provid...

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3M Versaflo TR-600-HIK Heavy Industry PAPR Kit

$2,976.90 - $2,976.90

$2,976.90

$2,976.90 - $2,976.90

$2,976.90

The 3M Versaflo TR-600-HIK Heavy Industry PAPR Kit is a complete powered air-purifying respirator system configured for heavy industrial maintenanc...

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3M 60927 P100 Mercury Vapor Organic Vapor Acid Gas Respirator Cartridge

$62.58

$62.58 - $62.58

$62.58

$49.95

$49.95 - $49.95

$49.95

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Moldex 7307 Respirator Cartridge (view 2)

Moldex 7307 Respirator Cartridge — Organic Vapor And Acid Gas (Semi-Rectangular, Moldex 7000/9000)

Moldex

$15.52

$15.52 - $15.52

$15.52

$8.80

$8.80 - $8.80

$8.80

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.7/5WC Safety Review — Moldex 7307 Respirator Cartridge Best For: organic vapor and acid gas exposure with little or no dust...

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Moldex 7367 Respirator Cartridge (view 2)

Moldex 7367 Respirator Cartridge — Organic Vapor And Acid Gas/P100 Combo (Semi-Rectangular, Moldex 7000/9000)

Moldex

$48.59

$48.59 - $48.59

$48.59

$11.62

$11.62 - $11.62

$11.62

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.7/5WC Safety Review — Moldex 7367 Respirator Cartridge Best For: organic vapor and acid gas with dust in one cartridge on M...

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Moldex 7760 P100 Particulate Filter — Moldex 7000/9000

Moldex

$9.58

$9.58 - $9.58

$9.58

$5.31

$5.31 - $5.31

$5.31

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Honeywell North N75003L Respirator Cartridge (view 2)

Honeywell North N75003L Organic Vapor & Acid Gas Cartridge — North Bayonet

Honeywell North

$18.86

$18.86 - $18.86

$18.86

$17.49

$17.49 - $17.49

$17.49

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.5/5 WC Safety Review — Honeywell North N75003L OV/AG Cartridge Best For: jobs with both solvent ...

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Moldex 7200 Respirator Cartridge — Acid Gas (Traditional, Moldex 7000/9000)

Moldex

$36.23 - $36.23

$36.23

$36.23 - $36.23

$36.23

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.5/5WC Safety Review — Moldex 7200 Respirator Cartridge Best For: acid gas exposure with little or no dust on Moldex 7000/78...

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Moldex 7300 Respirator Cartridge — Organic Vapor And Acid Gas (Traditional, Moldex 7000/9000)

Moldex

$18.73 - $18.73

$18.73

$18.73 - $18.73

$18.73

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.6/5WC Safety Review — Moldex 7300 Respirator Cartridge Best For: organic vapor and acid gas exposure with little or no dust...

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Honeywell North 7583P100L Respirator Cartridge (view 2)

Honeywell North 7583P100L Organic vapor and acid gas / P100 Cartridge — North Bayonet

Honeywell North

$29.42 - $29.42

$29.42

$40.75

$40.75 - $40.75

$40.75

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.6/5WC Safety Review — Honeywell North 7583P100L Organic vapor and acid gas/P100 Cartridge Best For: solvent vapor and acid ...

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3M 60928 P100 Organic Vapor Acid Gas Respirator Cartridge

$64.99 - $64.99

$64.99

$64.99 - $64.99

$64.99

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.6/5 WC Safety Review — 3M 60928 P100 Organic Vapor / Acid Gas Respirator Cartridge Best For: Work where org...

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3M 60923 P100 Acid Gas Organic Vapor Respirator Cartridge

$49.44

$49.44 - $49.44

$49.44

$19.90

$19.90 - $19.90

$19.90

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.6/5 WC Safety Review — 3M 60923 P100 Acid Gas / Organic Vapor Respirator Cartridge Best For: Mixed industri...

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3M 60922 P100 Acid Gas Respirator Cartridge

$46.76

$46.76 - $46.76

$46.76

$39.89

$39.89 - $39.89

$39.89

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.4/5 WC Safety Review — 3M 60922 P100 Acid Gas Respirator Cartridge Best For: Water and wastewater treatment...

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3M 7093C P100 Hydrogen Fluoride Respirator Cartridge with Nuisance Acid Gas and Organic Vapor

$138.86

$138.86 - $138.86

$138.86

$35.00

$35.00 - $35.00

$35.00

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.3/5 WC Safety Review — 3M 7093C P100 Cartridge with Nuisance Acid Gas / Organic Vapor Best For: Durable P10...

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3M 2076HF P95 Respirator Filter Hydrogen Fluoride Nuisance Acid Gas

$13.80 - $13.80

$13.80

$13.80 - $13.80

$13.80

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.6/5 Independently reviewed by WC Safety "The 3M 2076HF is a specialized P95 particulate filter with nuisance-level hydroge...

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3M 2078 P95 Respirator Filter Nuisance Acid Gas and Organic Vapor

$14.88

$14.88 - $14.88

$14.88

$13.00

$13.00 - $13.00

$13.00

The 3M 2078 P95 Respirator Filter (SKU 2078, by 3M) is a low-profile P95 particulate filter that adds nuisance-level organic vapor and acid gas...

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3M 2296 P100 Respirator Filter with Nuisance Acid Gas

$20.24

$20.24 - $20.24

$20.24

$18.31

$18.31 - $18.31

$18.31

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.6/5 Independently reviewed by WC Safety WC Safety Review: 3M 2296 Advanced P100 Filter "The 3M 2296 is the comfort-and-a...

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3M 2096 P100 Respirator Filter Nuisance Acid Gas

$17.52 - $17.52

$17.52

$18.06

$18.06 - $18.06

$18.06

Editorial Verdict — 3M 2096: 4.7/5 Independently reviewed by WC Safety The 3M 2096 is our pick when you need P100 particulate protection plus ...

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3M 6003 Organic Vapor and Acid Gas Respirator Cartridge

$21.75

$21.75 - $21.75

$21.75

$20.34

$20.34 - $20.34

$20.34

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.8/5 WC Safety Review — 3M 6003 Organic Vapor and Acid Gas Respirator Cartridge Best For: Jobs that mix orga...

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3M 6002 Acid Gas Respirator Cartridge

$23.00 - $23.00

$23.00

$23.00 - $23.00

$23.00

EDITORIAL REVIEW: 4.5/5 WC Safety Review — 3M 6002 Acid Gas Respirator Cartridge Best For: Confirmed acid-gas vapor — chlorine,...

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