Do respirators generate oxygen?

Respirators are not designed to generate oxygen. Instead, they serve the purpose of filtering and purifying the air that is already present in the environment, allowing users to breathe clean air in conditions where contaminants are present. These devices can be equipped with filters that capture harmful particles, gases, and vapors, but they rely on the ambient air supply, which already contains oxygen.

In situations where oxygen levels are low, respirators (like air-purifying respirators) will not provide any additional oxygen, making it critical to use specific types of breathing apparatus, such as oxygen tanks or supplied-air respirators, in those environments. Therefore, understanding the function of respirators clarifies why the correct choice is that they do not generate oxygen.