What is a fume hood used for?

A fume hood is an essential piece of laboratory equipment designed specifically to ventilate hazardous fumes, vapors, or dust away from the user. It provides a controlled environment that ensures the safety of lab personnel by minimizing their exposure to potentially dangerous substances during experiments and processes. When fume hoods are properly used, they create negative airflow that draws hazardous materials away from the breathing zone of the user and helps prevent inhalation of toxic substances.

In contrast, storing hazardous materials is not the primary function of a fume hood, and such materials are typically kept in designated storage areas. Displaying lab results and keeping lab equipment organized are tasks that can be done outside of a fume hood and are unrelated to its safety function. The primary role of a fume hood is to offer a safe and ventilated space for working with materials that release harmful vapors or aerosols, thus protecting laboratory personnel and maintaining a safe working environment.