• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.170-178
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• 2000

Most of manufacturers try to produce the most efficient filter for respirators with the lowest breathing resistance. Filter performance depends on low penetration, i.e., high efficiency (%), and low pressure drop ($mmH_2O$). This study was performed to evaluate performance of respirator filters by quality factor ($q_F$) and suggest the direction for improvement of respirator filters of good quality in Korea. Two mechanical filters, S and K made in Korea, three filtering facepieces, S made in China, C made in Korea and M made in USA, which were widely used in the workplace, were selected and tested efficiency and pressure drop in accordance with flow rate, using with Automated Filter Tester Model 8110 (TSI, USA). The best quality factor within the same respirator filter categories was $0.0672cm^{-1}\;H_2O$ for mechanical filter S, $0.0698cm^{-1}\;H_2O$ for filtering facepiece M at flow rate of 32Lpm. Mechanical filter S would be the best suitable during heavy work since qulity factors decrease less sharply than any others as increased flow rates. It was necessary for mechanical filter S to lower pressure drop without increasing efficiency, but mechanical filter K should be increased efficiency and decreased pressure drop. While filtering facepiece M had the best quality performance of three ones, Sand C should get much higher efficiency and lower pressure for better performance.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.367-376
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• 2016

Objectives: The production and use of nanoparticles have been increased. In 2014 Workplace Survey Results, 335 companies produce and treat nanoparticls. However, lack of data on nano-toxicity and a method for risk management and regulation on nanoparticles and the standard test method are not sufficient. Protective equipment selection guidelines for nanoparticles are not established. It is required to carry out respirator efficiency test against nanoparticles. This study was performed to evaluate filtration efficiency and manikin-based total inward leakage of particle filtering mask using in Korean country challenged with silver nanoparticles. Methods: We investigated filtration efficiency and total inward leakage of 7 respirator with silver nanoparticle. Results: The geometric mean diameters of Silver nanoparticles were 30 nm and number concentration were about $10^6{\sharp}/cm^3$. Filtration efficiency of six of the seven particle filtering masks was more than 98% and one particle filtering masks filtration efficiency was 94.9%. The filtration efficiency of particle filtering masks to 20 nm silver nanoparticels was highest. Artificial breathing machine with manikin based total inward leakage were 7.6% ~ 42.3%. Conclusions: The results of this study nano-silver filter efficiency was high but the total inward leakage was higher than filter penetration. Therefore, education on how to wear a respirator should be demanded. Especially for workers handling nanoparticles and toxic material, user seal checking and fit test must be performed.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.30-36
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• 2001

This review begins with a brief expression of aerosol capture mechanism of fibrous filter(s) and performance of particulate removing respirators. The more complicated and detailed discussion is not included in this articles. Filtration efficiency and pressure drop are introduced as quality factor ( $q_{F}$) and the way in which filtration efficiency varies with particle size is discussed. Quality factors fro filters recently certified in USA were found to be very higher than those of filters made in Korea, China and USA filters certified with old certified standards. Electrically charged filters are widely used because they have high filtration efficiency and low pressure drop, but their efficiency decreases sharply at the condition occurring wet and oil mist. A discussion is given of respirator leakage through face seal and filter media with fit testing and total inward leakage testing. Since fit factor (FF) refers to the reciprocal of the fraction of the total air entering a respirator through face seal leakage , the degree of fitting performance for respirators is expected with FF. Because respirators made in Korea had generally lower FFs than respirators made in USA, it is necessary to develope respirators that fit properly for Koreans or establish regulations for fit testing.g.

• 한국입자에어로졸학회지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.95-102
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• 2016

본 연구에서는 호흡용 보호구 필터의 나노물질에 대한 여과특성을 측정하기 위해서 소금(NaCl)과 은나노입자(Ag)를 대상으로 입경별 집진효율을 평가하였다. 호흡용 보호구 필터는 특급 방진마스크와 1급 방진마스크의 두 가지 안면부 여과식 방진마스크인 사용하였고, 마스크의 배기밸브 부분을 제외한 필터 여재 부분을 직경 47 mm로 잘라내어 필터홀더에 부착하여 입경별 입자제거효율을 시험하였다. 시험입자는 일반적으로 시험 입자로 사용되는 소금입자는 분무형 입자발생장치를 사용하여 발생하였고 중화기를 통과시켜 입자의 하전특성을 볼츠만 분포로 만들어 공급하였다. 은나노입자의 경우, 기화-응축 방법을 이용한 금속나노입자 생성방법인 ISO10801 방법을 사용하였다. 작업장의 은나노입자의 고농도 노출을 모사하기 위해, 중화기를 통과하지 않은 나노입자를 시험입자로 사용하였다. 은나노입자의 경우 소금입자로 만들기 어려운 20nm 이하의 입자를 안정적으로 효과적으로 만들어 시험에 적용하였고, 나노 크기에서도 매우 안정적인 데이터를 확보할 수 있었다. 1급 마스크 필터와 특급 마스크 필터에 대한 소금입자의 평가에서, 입경별 최소효율이 30~50nm 사이에서 나타나는 특성은 기존 연구와 비슷한 결과를 얻었다. 반면, 은나노입자의 경우 1급 마스크 필터와 특급 마스크 필터 모두에서 비슷한 크기의 소금 입자와 비교할 때 높은 효율을 나타냈다. 이것은 소금 입자의 경우 중화기를 통과시켜 시험입자로 사 용한 반면, 은나노입자의 경우 중화기를 통과시키지 않았기 때문이다. 본 연구에서는 작업장에서 은나노 입자가 고농도로 노출될 경우를 모사하여, 기화-응축에 의한 방법의 은나노입자 발생장치를 사용하였는데, 이 때 상대적으로 높게 대전된 입자들이 많이 만들어진다(Jung et al., 2006). 이로 인해, 정전필터인 마스크 필터의 포집 효과가 상대적으로 크기 때문에, 입경별 효율이 높아진 것으로 생각된다. 본 연구에서 평가한 1급 및 특급 방진마스크 여재의 최소 포집효율은 유럽 EN 149 기준인 95 LPM 유량 기준을 만족하는 것으로 나타났지만, 이것은 여재에 대한 평가 결과로, 실제 마스크에 대해서는 여재의 구조적인 불균일성이나 마스크를 착용하는 과정에서 밀착이 되지 않아 누출될 가능성은 마스크 사용에 고려되어야 한다. 불시에 발생할 수 있는 작업장 내 안전사고의 예방을 위하여 적절한 보호구의 선택과 올바른 착용 및 유지관리가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.283-290
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between filter replacement and filter performance change in particulate filters used in the workplace. Methods: Three types of particulate respirator filters are mainly used in the workplaces. These were tested against the filter performance safety certification standard for dust masks established by the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MoEL). Used filters were collected to test their performance, such as filter pressure drop, efficiency, and quality factors. All these factors were evaluated by a filter tester. To compare filter performance between used and new ones, the same kinds of new filters were also tested together under the same procedures. Results: A total of 270 used filters were collected for testing. The main reasons to replace the filters were difficulty in breathing(46.2%), dirty/odor influx(19.7%), and a combination of factors(26.7%). The pressure drop for two special class groups was significantly different(new filters: $20.72{\pm}3.33mmH_2O$; used filters: $24.70{\pm}5.26mmH_2O$, p<0.0001). In the case of penetration, new filter groups indicated $0.0032{\pm}0.0040%$, while that of the used filters was $0.0596{\pm}0.1187%$. The quality factor for the used filters($0.34{\pm}0.09$) significantly decreased compared to the new filters($0.53{\pm}0.08$) (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Filter performance including pressure drop, penetration, and the quality factor was evaluated and compared between new and used filters in the workplace. The results showed that general filter performance deteriorated more for change of pressure drop, penetration and the quality factor.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.79-89
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• 1999

A quantitative fit test, condensation nuclei counting (Portacount 8025, TSI), was performed concurrently with a banana oil (isoamyl acetate: IAA) qualitative fit test (MSA) to evaluate reliability on IAA QLFT and correlation between two methods. One brands of quarter mask (3M model 7500 medium) was prepared for QLFT with HEPA filter and gas & vapor removing media, i.e., combination cartridge. 110 subjects (65 male, 45 female) were fit tested QNFT and QLFT each three times. For a wearer combination having a FF<10, as determined by CNC QNFT, the point es timate (${\beta}$-error) of the probability of that combination not being rejected by the banana oil QLFT was found to be 0.0 with 95% confidence that this statistic is not expected to exceed 0.15. For a wearer combination having a FF<100, as determined by CNC QNFT, the point estimate of the probability of that combination not being rejected by the banana oil QLFT was found to be 0.07 with 95% confidence that this statistic is not expected to exceed 0.13. The uncertainty associated with each estimate, however, is large due to the small number of study subjects with inadequately fitting respirators.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.117-129
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• 2023

This study tested the effect on the toxicity of formaldehyde to select a shelter site due to formaldehyde leakage. As a result of the experiment, the range of ERPG-2 and 3 is between 2.2km and 9.6km, ASET is 6 minutes at 1km, 15 minutes at 3km, 22 minutes at 5km, and the lethality rate is 99.9% at 1km and 9% at 3km. In areas where refuge time is less than 15 minutes or the lethality rate is more than 2%, a shelter is installed. This is because if there are only a few evacuees, the evacuation time may take longer than the pre-movement time of 15 minutes or less specified in PD 7974-6:2004, and the lethality rate with the lowest number of deaths was calculated to be 2%. The shelter must be equipped with a hepa-filter, positive pressure equipment, air purifier, air respirator, goggles, chemical protective clothing type 4 and sufficient parking space must be secured to ensure the safety of evacuees.