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Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Respiratory Protection Handbook, Revised May 2025
May 2025
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2025-111
This handbook updates the original CBRN Respiratory Protection Handbook Publication No. 2018-166. It reflects new and emerging chemical and radiological hazards information identified during a recent hazard assessment conducted by NIOSH, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense. As a result of this hazard assessment, NIOSH expanded its CBRN APR Protection List to capture additional hazards that NIOSH Approved® APRs with CBRN canisters would provide protection against. The changes to NIOSH’s CBRN APR Protection List are captured in Chapter 2, Table 2-1. Additionally, changes in Chapter 3 reflect updates to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards involving respirators with CBRN protections.
Suggested Citation
NIOSH [2025]. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Respiratory Protection Handbook. By Szalajda JV, Greenawald LA, Janssen L, Johnson AT, Johnson JS, Mansdorf SZ, Medici OR, Metzler RW, Rehak TR. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2025-111.
This publication carries over an error from the 2018 edition stating, "For positive pressure tight-fitting respirators, OSHA regulations and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards permit the use of a qualitative or quantitative fit test." OSHA continues to accept qualitative fit testing for positive pressure tight-fitting respirators, however NFPA should not have been included in that statement. NFPA only identifies quantitative fit testing for wearers of positive pressure respirators, such as an SCBA.
This document will be updated soon to reflect this change.