A fume hood is typically a large piece of equipment enclosing five sides of a work area, the bottom of which is most commonly located at standing work height. This is used to: Protect the user from inhaling toxic gases (fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, glove boxes) Protect the product or experiment (biosafety cabinets, glove boxes) Protect the environment (recirculating fume hoods, certain biosafety cabinets, and any other type when fitted with appropriate filters in the exhaust airstream)