Large particle penetration through N95 respirator filters and facepiece leaks with cyclic flow

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cho KJ ; Grinshpun SA ; Haruta H ; McKay R ; Reponen T ; Sekar P ; Shukla R
• Description:
  The aim of this study was to investigate respirator filter and faceseal penetration of particles representing bacterial and fungal spore size ranges (0.7-4 mum). First, field experiments were conducted to determine workplace protection factors (WPFs) for a typical N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR). These data (average WPF = 515) were then used to position the FFR on a manikin to simulate realistic donning conditions for laboratory experiments. Filter penetration was also measured after the FFR was fully sealed on the manikin face. This value was deducted from the total penetration (obtained from tests with the partially sealed FFR) to determine the faceseal penetration. All manikin experiments were repeated using three sinusoidal breathing flow patterns corresponding to mean inspiratory flow rates of 15, 30, and 85 l min(-1). The faceseal penetration varied from 0.1 to 1.1% and decreased with increasing particle size (P < 0.001) and breathing rate (P < 0.001). The fractions of aerosols penetrating through the faceseal leakage varied from 0.66 to 0.94. In conclusion, even for a well-fitting FFR respirator, most particle penetration occurs through faceseal leakage, which varies with breathing flow rate and particle size. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Dust Occupational Health Particulate Matter Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Airborne-dusts Airborne-particles Author Keywords: Cyclic Flow Faceseal Filter Filters Particulates Penetration Personal-protective-equipment Protection Factor Respirator Respirators Respiratory-equipment Respiratory-function-tests Respiratory-protection Respiratory-protective-equipment

  More +
• ISSN:
  0003-4878
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  68-77
• Volume:
  54
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20039937
• Citation:
  Ann Occup Hyg 2010 Jan; 54(1):68-77
• Email:
  tiina.reponen@uc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2010
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010601
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Occupational Hygiene
• End Date:
  20110731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d270d96d9acbea20576f4ec80d23a0e20d9b4ad858490ce21f17433ada69554aa96b2e5d2678d7555c0c64fa3cbab2d25909eb0043e09343078590a037b437ff
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/192980/cdc_192980_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 333.73 KB ]