Abstract: An apparatus into which particulate material contents of rupturable bags may be charged for further handling including a hopper having an inlet into which the material may be charged, producing portions of settling and airborne particles of the material, and an outlet through which the settling portion of the material may be discharged, a first filtering unit having an inlet communicating with the hopper inlet, a second filter unit having an inlet communicating with an outlet of the first filter unit and means for producing an air flow from the hopper inlet and sequentially through the first and second filter units whereby the portion of airborne particles of the material is drawn by the air stream through the filter units for removing the airborne particles therein.