• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2011

Purpose: The present study was conducted to investigate whether certain repeated physical and/or chemical stimuli added on ophthalmic lenses might induce any changes of the functions of lens coatings. Methods: The changes in lens surface, light transmittance, foggy duration, durability of ophthalmic lenses were determined after the application of tearing-off with tape, rubbing with acetone, soaking in acetone or distilled water of ophthalmic lens (CR-39 material) as physical and/or chemical stimuli. Results: The change of ophthalmic lens surface was detected after soaking in acetone for longer than 30 minutes by observing the lens surface to figure out the functional change of hard coating. The ophthalmic lens soaked in distilled water for 180 minutes showed little functional change of anti-reflection coating as 1% by measuring light transmittance of lens. However, the function of anti-reflection coating was almost disappeared after the ophthalmic lens was soaked in acetone for 60 minutes. The foggy duration of ophthalmic lens soaked in acetone was increased by estimating foggy duration of lens. The lens coating was shown to be defected when the pre-damaged ophthalmic lenses were torn off with tape, rubbed with acetone and soaked in distilled water or acetone by observing pre-damaged lens surface to evaluate its durability. Conclusions: The careful management during ophthalmic lens dispensing or usual eyeglass wearing is needed since the change in ophthalmic lens coatings was shown by repeated physical and/or chemical stimuli.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.457-466
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• 2023

Background: During hot environment work tasks with whole-body enclosed anti-bioaerosol suit, the combined effect of heavy sweating and exhaled hot humid air may cause the N95 medical respirator to saturate with water/sweat (i.e., water-blocking). Methods: 32 young male subjects with different body mass indexes (BMI) in whole-body protection (N95 medical respirator + one-piece protective suit + head covering + protective face screen + gloves + shoe covers) were asked to simulate waste collecting from each isolated room in a seven-story building at 27-28℃, and the weight, inhalation resistance (R_f), and aerosol penetration of the respirator before worn and after water-blocking were analyzed. Results: All subjects reported water-blocking asphyxia of the N95 respirators within 36-67 min of the task. When water-blocking occurred, the R_f and 10-200 nm total aerosol penetration (P_t) of the respirators reached up to 1270-1810 Pa and 17.3-23.3%, respectively, which were 10 and 8 times of that before wearing. The most penetration particle size of the respirators increased from 49-65 nm before worn to 115-154 nm under water-blocking condition, and the corresponding maximum size-dependent aerosol penetration increased from 2.5-3.5% to 20-27%. With the increase of BMI, the water-blocking occurrence time firstly increased then reduced, while the R_f, P_t, and absorbed water all increased significantly. Conclusions: This study reveals respirator water-blocking and its serious negative impacts on respiratory protection. When performing moderate-to-high-load tasks with whole-body protection in a hot environment, it is recommended that respirator be replaced with a new one at least every hour to avoid water-blocking asphyxia.