• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.395-402
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• 2023

Objectives: Microbial contamination of face masks used by healthcare professionals can vary depending on the degree of exposure to bioaerosols in various healthcare environments. However, research on this topic is limited. Therefore, we analyzed microbial contamination of N95 respirators used in hospital offices, wards, and outpatient settings. Methods: Samples isolated from N95 respirators worn for 2, 4, and 6 hours were incubated at a temperature of 35-37℃ or 25-28℃ for 24 hours or for 3-7 days, and colony-forming units were counted in chocolate agar, tryptic soy agar, and Sabouraud dextrose agar plates. Total indoor airborne bacteria were also measured in the healthcare environments. Finally, microbial species were identified using Gram staining with a microscopic speculum. Results: The three types of environments did not deviate from the maintenance of standard indoor air quality. There was no difference between the microbial species identified in the healthcare environment and mask contamination. However, the number of bacteria in the masks worn in each environment differed, and the degree of contamination increased with mask-wearing time (p<0.05). Conclusions: Therefore, care must be taken to avoid recontamination of masks due to improper use and exposure to biological hazards in healthcare environments. In conclusion, scientific evidence is necessary for safe mask-wearing times. Based on the results of this study, we hope to conduct further research to establish guidelines for the safe use of face masks during respiratory disease epidemics.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.378-385
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• 2023

The importance of wearing respiratory protective equipment has been highlighted even more during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if the suitability of respiratory protection has been confirmed through testing in a laboratory environment, there remains the potential for leakage points in the respirators due to improper application by the wearer, damage to the equipment, or sudden movements in real working conditions. In this paper, we propose a method to detect the occurrence of leak holes by measuring the pressure changes inside the mask according to the wearer's breathing activity by attaching an IoT sensor to a full-face respirator. We designed 9 experimental scenarios by adjusting the degree of leak holes of the respirator and the breathing cycle time, and acquired respiratory data for the wearer of the respirator accordingly. Additionally, we analyzed the respiratory data to identify the duration and pressure change range for each breath, utilizing this data to train a neural network model for detecting leak holes in the respirator. The experimental results applying the developed neural network model showed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 94.29%, and accuracy of 97.53%. We conclude that the effective detection of leak holes can be achieved by incorporating affordable, small-sized IoT sensors into respiratory protective equipment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.225-235
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• 2010

This study was aimed to assess the status of working environment, health care management status and cause of exposure in manufactories using dimethylformamide (DMF). For the purpose, airborne concentration of DMF in the workplaces and N-methylformamide (NMF) in worker's urine were measured with job type and process. In addition, management of local exhaust ventilation system (LEV) and personal protective equipment (PPE) was evaluated at 35 work places (107 workers) located in Busan and Gimhae area. Mean DMF concentrations in work places by job type and process were of high level measured in printing and record media reproduction (5.23 ppm) and flaking process (2.48 ppm). Workers in adhesive job were measured a large amount of urine NMF (21.59 mg/${\ell}$). 98.1% of DMF handling workers were provided respirators, but 67.3% of those workers used them. The main reasons for not using respirators were inconvenience and difficulty of breathing. Airborne concentrations of DMF were higher in the workplaces in which LEVs were working abnormally, but there was not statistically significant. In addition, the urine NMF levels were correlated with management of LEV within the workers who did not use the respirators (p<0.048). These results implied that LEV should be installed and maintained properly to protect the workers from the exposure to DMF. Management of PPE should be also necessary to protect the workers from chemical hazards.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.95-102
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• 2016

Controlling exposures to occupational hazards is important for protecting workers. Certified facepiece respirators are recommended when engineering controls do not adequately prevent exposures to airborne nanomaterials. The objective of this study is to carry out the experimental performance test to investigate the fractional efficiencies of the filter media for two grades of facepiece respirators. Experimental performance evaluations were carried out for the test NaCl particles and silver nanoparticles. For media of respirator filter, the penetration of NaCl particles was less than 5% and the most penetrating particle size occurred at about 40 nm. For silver nanoparticles, the most penetrating particle size was about 20nm with higher efficiency than those of NaCl particles. Charge characteristics of airborne nanoparticles is important because the media of respirator filter is made by the electret filter media.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.77-81
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• 2012

This study of aims to provide basic data for improve the performance of air respirators that generate by bad influencing elements in fire emergency field. With three types of conditions set up for these tests, the pressures of containers have been extracted; the ambient temperatures have been checked, and the generation of moisture inside and outside container have been checked and identified. Specifically, these tests have been conducted at temperatures ranging between $-20{\sim}40^{\circ}C$. The pressures of containers have been extracted to reach between 0.4~0.8 MPa, using a pressure regulating valve. These tests have resulted in no change in the temperature and moisture outside the containers and no generation of moisture inside the containers as well. Although moisture has been generated inside the pressure gauge, the amount of moisture has not exceeded 25 $mg/m^3$, i.e. the limit suggested by the Korean Government. Therefore, it is judged that the moisture generated inside air respirators, which can be the most critical issue in the equipment, is likely to be caused in the process of managing the equipment or replacing air in the equipment at places of end-users, rather than in the process of manufacturing and production of the equipment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.247-264
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• 2023

Objectives: The study was to examine the features of three-dimensional(3D) face dimensions and to develop fit test panels for the labor population using respirators in South Korea. Methods: This study was part of the first-year work of a two-year-project conducted at Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute in 2021. After 3D head dimensions data were collected from Size Korea Center managing Sixth Size Korea databases, 3D face dimensions DB for the South Korean labor population was established for 21 items of face dimensions in line with the ISO/TS 16976-2 and KS A ISO 15535. With the South Korean labor population 3D face dimensions DB, in accordance with the ISO/TS 16976-2, the descriptive statistics of 3D face dimensions were calculated and two fit test panels were developed. Results: A total of 2,752 subjects were finally determined and they were 52.9% for male, 41.2% for the highest age-group of 15-29, and residents in the capital area. Mean and standard deviation were obtained for each of the 21 3D face dimensions items for the South Korean labor population. Among the items, male and female face widths were 137.6±5.7 mm, 133.2±5.0 mm, respectively. Male and female face lengths were 116.6±7.0 mm, 107.8±6.8 mm, respectively. Two new South Korean fit test panels, a bivariate test panel and a principal component analysis test panel, were developed using the 3D face dimensions DB as well. Conclusions: Using the 3D face dimensions DB, the mean and standard deviation were featured for each of the 21 items and also the two fit test panels were newly developed in the study. It is suggested that the study outputs should be utilized practically and effectively in selection, use, and management of respirators at work, expecting that respiratory protection can be furthermore improved for respirator users including labor population across the country.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.204-215
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• 2008

Many researches for service-life of chemical cartridges of respirators have been performed in many countries. On the result of these researches a few softwares programs were eventually developed to be used. In spite of that, it is difficult to apply these researches and softwares practically in the work spot because of too many factors that influence on service-life of chemical cartridges. This study was the first of two conducted for the purpose of developing program for estimating exchange period or service-life of chemical cartridges available feasibly in the workplaces. Collecting plan of cartridges discarded after use is in principle that three cartridges from three workers at a time, three steps of 1/2 exchange time due to smelling, just routine exchange time and 1.2 to 1.3 expanded time of routine exchange, total nine cartridges are collected in the same job site. 33 cartridges for organic vapor were collected in paint spray process of ship yard and paint factory, and 6 cartridges for acid were collected in plating process. These cartridges were analysed the remaining breakthrough time in 3M Innovation Center. Challenge vapor and breakthrough concentration were complied with Korean regulation for chemical cartridge respirators. Estimated breakthrough time was determined from previously used time plus breakthrough time for the remaining. Exchange period of cartridge would be the shortest time among three estimated breakthrough times. On the result breakthrough time for organic vapor was found to be relatively easily estimated, but that for acid aerosol or vapor was difficult to be confident. Even though this method was difficult to be precisely predicted exchange period of cartridge, it could be an alternative program practically available in the job site.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.328-337
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in concentration according to the position at the left or right shoulder within a 30 cm of radius of workers' respirators and provide basic data for the establishment of an industrial health policy. Methods: Personal samples were collected from a total of 65 workers from 27 manufacturing firms in South Gyeongsang-do Province from November 5, 2011 to December 30, 2012 after classifying the laborers into left- and right-side groups. The organic compound samples were collected and analyzed in accordance with the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) 1501. Results: In terms of the concentration of organic compounds collected from both left and right shoulders at the position of workers' respirators, isobutyl acetate was the highest with 145 ppm at the left shoulder, followed by ethyl acetate (133.5 ppm) and toluene (38.13 ppm). At the right shoulder, on the contrary, ethyl acetate (149.3 ppm) was the highest, followed by toluene (46.26 ppm), xylene (29.63ppm) and isopropyl alcohol (28.06 ppm). Overall, the right shoulder was higher than the left shoulder in terms of concentrations. Conclusions: For the measurement of the working environment, workers' personal samples should be collected at the place closest to the respirator. In terms of the reduction of error, the attachment of two sample media is expected to reduce errors in exposure assessment.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2011

The adsorption capacity of charcoal is a function of the airborne concentration of the target chemical. To evaluate the adsorption capacity of charcoal packed in the cartridges of air purifying respirators, breakthrough tests were conducted with carbon tetrachloride for three commercial cartridges (3M models #7251, #6000 and AX) at 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 ppm. Adsorption capacities were calculated using a mass transfer balance equation derived from the curve fitting to the breakthrough curves obtained experimentally. Carbon micropore volumes were estimated by iteration to fit the Dubinin/Radushkevich (D/R) adsorption isotherm. They were 0.6566, 0.5727 and 0.3087 g/cc for #7251, #6000 and the AX cartridge, respectively. Above 100 ppm (at high challenge concentrations), #7251 and #6000 showed higher adsorption capacities. However, as the challenge concentration decreased, the adsorption capacities of #7251 and #6000 sharply dropped. On the other hand, the adsorption capacity of the AX cartridge showed little change with the decrease of the challenge concentration. Thus, the AX showed a higher adsorption capacity than #7251 and #6000 at the 5-50 ppm level. It is concluded that service-life tests of cartridges and adsorption capacity tests of charcoal should be conducted at challenge concentration levels reflecting actual working environmental conditions. Alternatively, it is recommended to use the D/R adsorption isotherm to extrapolate adsorption capacity at low concentration levels from the high concentration levels at which breakthrough tests are conducted, at a minimum of two different concentration levels.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2020

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-Companion^TM) 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-Companion^TM) and the flame photometer. Results: A linear relationship was found between the raw data scaled with the PortaCount (without N95-Companion^TM) 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.