What category of fumes does airbrushing fall in?

Paint fumes,they are paint fumes

a mask that is suitable for painting,enamels and lacquers.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QZ5I4KW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_E0CDXPKRKZ9P9HHXQGN8

Hmm;

        Extra Fine Lung Damaging particulates is what comes out the business end of an Air-Brush! Even a disposeable face mask is better than nothing, even with Acrylics. I use the ones recommended for shop wear in woodshops. Believe it or not, Mahogany dust is extremely Dangerous!( VERY HIGH in Silica Particulates). Paints vary, But ANY are not compatible with breathing, either the paint or the thinner So, in conclusion even if it's a disposeable one, wear a mask. Sumpin is betta dan nuttin!

Do not take the following as "safe practice", but here's my two cents.

1. Any amount of protection is better than none.

2. My first line of defense is environmental- I try to spray outdoors whenever the weather or time of day allow it.

3.Pulling the fumes through a filter is better for the environment. A hood with a fan and filter solves most issues.

4. I wear a paper face mask when I sand, grind, saw or spray any strong solvent containing liquid.

5. I've had my kids already.

Bill

For any paints with solvents, even acrylics using lacquer thinner I use a mask pretty much the same as Tojo linked to. I'll just say this, with that you don't even smell the thinner much less breath particles. It's the way to go. But those cartridges have a life span once the package is opened, thus I store the whole mask in a 1 gal freezer bag when not in use. My system has gotten to where other than mineral spirits I can't tolerate solvents or thinners any more. So the mask is in use even mixing the paint if I'm not outdoors with a breeze at my back.

I can use an N95 mask for water borne acrylics but I never spray with no mask on. It's how it has to be for me. My level of exposure was just too high for too many of my younger years between models and painting 1/1. I was too often too quick to return to the paint booth unprotected. The room had cleared but the paint not being dry still gave off toxic fumes. Then add wood working and wood turn into the mix. Pollen gives me trouble big time, never mind paint fumes. So if you are at all like that, get the 3m mask and wear it right is my suggestion... Solvents and paint particles just aren't meant to be in our bodies and good for us we alsohave the way around them getting there.

Okay, this is maybe a do as I say rather than the do as I do.  So be it.  I have used masks for large painting jobs, and I use sanding masks for my carpentry projects.

But I have never used a mask for model painting.  I have been doing it for 75 years now (continuously).  I have had pneumonia twice, but cannot say it was do to paint solvents.  Maybe I am just lucky.  I do have serious heath problems, but they are due to lifestyle and food/drink choices.  Much more important than model painting, IMHO.  Watch the salt, sugar, fat intakes- those can bite you really hard.  Exercise a lot!

I use** a 3M 7502 series mask**, (01 sml, 02 med, 03 large) with VOC filters and the clip-on NIOSH/N95 white clip on filters.

Acrylic paint is effectively resin in a carrier fluid, atomised when sprayed. Cellulose/lacquer, Enamel & other paints are similar, so don't take risks.

If you can smell it, and I no longer can (COVID-19!), then you are breathing it. 

*I should use it more often, but ALWAYS when a long session, a complete vehicle, or using lacquer or topcoats/future. I also have extraction.

**3M 7200 series, non-alergenic, very comfortable, even with a full beard, doen't steam up my glassess either!

My mask is a 3M 6300, it's basically the same design as the 7000 series but not a silicone rubber seal to the face but like the older masks I always used in 1/1 ( basically a soft grey plastic/ rubber compound). I do like the wide sealing lip and twist lock cartridges which are the same ones used on the 7000-7500.. I use 6001 cartridges rated for organic vapors and P95 outer elements. Works great and fits nice and tight, no solvent odor at all gets through even with my closely trimmed beard. I think these are maybe 20 or so dollars less expensive than the 7000 series when bought in the kit form that comes with a set of cartridges and two replacemnt sets of the outer P95 elements. The cartridges have a more stream lined shape than my masks of old which were round, active carbon filled. So the outer P95 catches the particulates and the cartridges eat the solvents and vapors. Mine is a large.

By using the mask it offers me the ability to continue to use enamel paints which are my preferred paints for classic cars, if I choose to. Tamiya acrylics are fine too but all colors aren't covered with them alone. I can nail most colors with craft paint mixing but now clear coat is needed and on a classic car there is a fine line between realistic and that clear coated look that is unnatural on those old cars. If I use no mask then I'm begging for a sinus infection. Life changed, there was a time a little overspray never bothered me in the quantities used for models and that's not so anymore. I have the mask anyway, why not use it ( models aren't all I spray) !