Assessment of Faceseal Leakage in a Half-Mask Respirator Used by Firefighters

Details

• Personal Author:
  Grinshpun SA ; He X(K)
• Description:
  Firefighters are often exposed to ultrafine combustion particles during the fire overhaul. The ultrafine aerosol exposures at workplaces have been associated with impairments of cardiovascular function and other adverse health outcomes. To control the exposure, the firefighters and first responders conventionally wear half-mask elastomeric respirators. Currently, it is unknown how the faceseal leakage occurring when wearing such a respirator affects its performance. To address this issue, we propose to conduct a respirator performance evaluation study using the size-selective measurements of the aerosol concentrations inside and outside the respirator. First, each subject of the standard NIOSH 25-subject panel wearing a half-mask respirator will undergo a series of exercises while exposed to the NaCl surrogate of combustion aerosols, and the total inward leakage (TIL) will be determined particle-size-selectively. Second, the subject- and exercise-specific breathing patterns will be recorded and replicated on a breathing manikin with the tested respirator sealed on it.Again, the aerosol concentrations inside and outside the respirator will be measured to determine the filter penetration (in absence of the faceseal leakage). This approach will allow differentiating the relative contribution of the two penetration pathways: the filter media and the faceseal leakage. The effects of facial/body movements, particle size, and breathing patterns on the protection efficiency of the half-mask respirator will be quantified. The results will help establish a better understanding of the respirator performance against combustion aerosols and develop strategies for its improvement. The proposed study will not only benefit firefighters but also other workers since the half-mask respirators are widely used throughout occupational environments. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Emergency Responders Fires Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety
• Keywords:
  Aerosol Particles Combustion Products Equipment Testing Fire Fighting First Responders Half Facepiece Respirators Personal Protective Equipment PPE Ultrafine Particles
• Publisher:
  University of Cincinnati
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• 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:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052541
• Citation:
  13th Annual Pilot Research Project Symposium, University of Cincinnati Education and Research Center, October 4-5, 2012, Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati, OH: University of Cincinnati, 2012 Oct; :1
• Email:
  hexj@mail.uc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  13th Annual Pilot Research Project Symposium, University of Cincinnati Education and Research Center, October 4-5, 2012, Cincinnati, Ohio
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b5bd55886b67d7680a70407ac3e253ea58c08a8c975ee300e17068e96d462bb9fa2b2e8304f20396cb95f1ca980315e47f767ee29a8ca1cd95c4d0afa5ccb879
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/212054/cdc_212054_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 66.44 KB ]