Safety and Health at Work

Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (산업안전보건연구원)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Evaluation of a New Workplace Protection Factor―Measuring Method for Filtering Facepiece Respirator

  • Sun, Chenchen (School of Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering, University of Wuppertal) ;
  • Thelen, Christoph (Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA)) ;
  • Sanz, Iris Sancho (Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA)) ;
  • Wittmann, Andreas (School of Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering, University of Wuppertal)
  • Received : 2019.02.13
  • Accepted : 2019.11.06
  • Published : 2020.03.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Background: This study aims to assess whether the TSI PortaCount (Model 8020) is a measuring instrument comparable with the flame photometer. This would provide an indication for the suitability of the PortaCount for determining the workplace protection factor for particulate filtering facepiece respirators. Methods: The PortaCount (with and without the N95-CompanionTM) was compared with a stationary flame photometer from Moores (Wallisdown) Ltd (Type 1100), which is a measuring instrument used in the procedure for determining the total inward leakage of the particulate filtering facepiece respirator in the European Standard. Penetration levels of sodium chloride aerosol through sample respirators of two brands (A and B) were determined by the two measuring systems under laboratory conditions. For each brand, thirty-six measurements were conducted. The samples were split into groups according to their protection level, conditioning before testing, and aerosol concentration. The relationship between the gauged data from two measuring systems was determined. In addition, the particle size distribution inside the respirator and outside the respirator was documented. Linear regression analysis was used to calculate the association between the PortaCount (with and without the N95-CompanionTM) and the flame photometer. Results: A linear relationship was found between the raw data scaled with the PortaCount (without N95-CompanionTM) and the data detected by the flame photometer (R2 = 0.9704) under all test conditions. The distribution of particle size was found to be the same inside and outside the respirator in almost all cases. Conclusion: Based on the obtained data, the PortaCount may be applicable for the determination of workplace protection factor.

Keywords

References

  1. European Committe for Standardization. EN 529: respiratory protective devices - recommendations for selection, use, care and maintenance - guidance document. Brussels: European committe for standardization; 2005.
  2. European Committe for Standardization. EN 149: respiratory protective devices - filtering half masks to protect against particles - requirements, testing, marking. Brussels: European committe for standardization; 2009.
  3. Janssen L, Zhuang Z, Shaffer R. Criteria for the collection of useful respirator performance data in the workplace. J Occup Environ Hyg 2014;11:218-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2013.852282
  4. Zhuang Z, Coffey CC, Jensen PA, Campbell DL, Lawrence RB, Myers WR. Correlation between quantitative fit factors and workplace protection factors measured in actual workplace environments at a steel foundry. AIHA J 2003;64:730-8. https://doi.org/10.1202/475.1
  5. Zhuang Z, Myers WR. Field performance measurements of half-facepiece respirators - paint spraying operations. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1996;57:50-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/15428119691015214
  6. Myers WR, Zhuang Z. Field performance measurements of half-facepiece respirators: steel mill operations. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1998;59:789-95. https://doi.org/10.1080/15428119891010974
  7. Myers WR, Zhuang Z, Nelson T. Field performance measurements of halffacepiece respirators-foundry operations. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1996;57:166-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/15428119691015106
  8. Myers WR, Zhuang Z, Nelson T, Sides S, Wilmes D. Field performance measurements of half-facepiece respirators-study protocol. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1995;56:765-75. https://doi.org/10.1080/15428119591016584
  9. Han D-H. Correlations between workplace protection factors and fit factors for filtering facepieces in the welding workplace. Industrial Health 2002;40:328-34. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.40.328
  10. Janssen LL, Nelson TJ, Cuta KT. Workplace protection factors for an N95 filtering facepiece respirator. J Occup Environ Hyg 2007;4:698-707. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459620701517764
  11. Liu BYU, Sega K, Rubow KL, Lenhart SW, Myers WR. In-mask aerosol sampling for powered air purifying respirators. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1984;45:278-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298668491399785
  12. Lee S-A, Adhikari A, Grinshpun SA, McKay R, Shukla R, Zeigler HL, et al. Respiratory protection provided by N95 filtering facepiece respirators against airborne dust and microorganisms in agricultural farms. J Occup Environ Hyg 2005;2:577-85. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459620500330583
  13. Cho KJ, Jones S, Jones G, McKay R, Grinshpun SA, Dwivedi A, et al. Effect of particle size on respiratory protection provided by two types of N95 respirators used in agricultural settings. J Occup Environ Hyg 2010;7:622-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2010.513910
  14. Cho KJ, Reponen T, McKay R, Dwivedi A, Adhikari A, Singh U, et al. Comparison of workplace protection factors for different biological contaminants. J Occup Environ Hyg 2011;8:417-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2011.585094
  15. Eninger RM, Honda T, Reponen T, McKay R, Grinshpun SA. What does respirator certification tell us about filtration of ultrafine particles? J Occup Environ Hyg 2008;5:286-95. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459620801960153
  16. Lawrence RB, Duling MG, Calvert CA, Coffey CC. Comparison of performance of three different types of respiratory protection devices. J Occup Environ Hyg 2006;3:465-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459620600829211
  17. Duling MG, Lawrence RB, Slaven JE, Coffey CC. Simulated workplace protection factors for half-facepiece respiratory protective devices. J Occup Environ Hyg 2007;4:420-31. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459620701346925
  18. European Committe for Standardization. EN 13274-7: respiratory protective devices - methods of test - Part 7: determination of particle filter penetration. Brussels: European committe for standardization; 2008 german version.
  19. Operation and service manual. P/N 1980092, Revision M edPORTACOUNT(R) Plus Model 8020. USA: TSI Incorporated; 2006.
  20. Theory of operation (Application Note ITI-053) Rev. B edN95-$Companion^{TM}$ Model 8095. USA: TSI Incorporated; 2010.
  21. ELPITM User Manual. ver. 4.11 ed. Finland: Dekati Ltd; 2010.
  22. Operation manualInoLab pH/Cond 720. Germany: WTW GmbH; 2004.
  23. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Respirator types. United States Department of Labor. Available from: https://www.osha.gov/video/respiratory_protection/resptypes_transcript.html.
  24. Rengasamy S, Eimer BC. Nanoparticle penetration through filter media and leakage through face seal interface of N95 filtering facepiece respirators. Ann Occup Hyg 2012;56:568-80. https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/mer122
  25. Diez DM, Barr CD, Cetinkaya-Rundel M. OpenIntro statistics. 3rd ed.; 2017.
  26. Rengasamy S, Eimer BC, Shaffer RE. Comparison of nanoparticle filtration performance of NIOSH-approved and CE-marked particulate filtering facepiece respirators. Ann Occup Hyg 2009;53:117-28. https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/men086
  27. Rengasamy S, Verbofsky R, King WB, Shaffer RE. Nanoparticle penetration through NIOSH-approved N95 filtering-facepiece respirators. J Intern Soc Resp Protec 2007;24:49-59.
  28. Shaffer RE, Rengasamy S. Respiratory protection against airborne nanoparticles: a review. J Nanopart Res 2009;11:1661-72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-009-9649-3
  29. Vo E, Horvatin M, Zhuang Z. Performance comparison of field portable instruments to the scanning mobility particle sizer using monodispersed and polydispersed sodium chloride aerosols. Ann Work Expo Health 2018;62:711-20. https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxy036
  30. Zhuang Z, Vo E, Horvatin M, Bergman M, Wu B. Evaluation of portable instruments for measuring nanoparticles exposure and respirator performance under simulated workplace conditions. In: Xth International Aerosol Conference (IAC). Saint Louis, Missouri 2018.

Cited by

  1. An indirect Raman spectroscopy method for the quantitative measurement of respirable crystalline silica collected on filters inside respiratory equipment vol.12, pp.21, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1039/d0ay00165a
  2. Potential risks of a widespread use of 3D printing for the manufacturing of face masks during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic vol.4, pp.3, 2020, https://doi.org/10.2217/3dp-2020-0014
  3. Personal protective equipment during COVID-19 pandemic: a narrative review on technical aspects vol.17, pp.12, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1080/17434440.2020.1852079