Expedient methods of respiratory protection. II. Leakage tests. Final report

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 UTC 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5532576· OSTI ID:5532576

Cooper, D W; Hinds, W C; Price, J M; Weker, R; Yee, H S

The following readily-available materials were tested on a manikin connected to a breathing simulator to determine the fraction of an approximately 2-..mu..m-diameter aerosol that would leak around the seal of the materials to the manikin's face: cotton/polyester shirt material, cotton handkerchief material, toweling (a wash cloth), a surgical mask (Johnson and Johnson Co., model HRI 8137), and a NIOSH-approved disposable face mask (3M, model number 8710). The leakage tests were performed to supplement the measurements of penetration through the materials, conducted as the first phase of this investigation. The leakage tests were performed with the materials held on to the face by three methods, leakage fractions being determined from comparisons with the penetration of the same aerosol for the materials fully taped to the face. At a breathing rate of 37 liters per minute, mean leakages ranged from 0.0 percent to 63 percent. Mean penetrations exclusive of leakage ranged from 0.6 percent to 39 percent. Use of nylon hosiery material (panty hose) to hold the handkerchief material or the disposable face mask to the face was found to be very effective in preventing leakage. Such a combination could be expected to reduce leakage around the handkerchief to about ten percent or less in practice, and around the mask to less than one percent, offering substantial protection from accidentally generated aerosols. The reduction in leakage around the mask provided by the hosiery material suggests the adaptation and use of such an approach in regular industrial hygiene practice. The third and final phase of this investigation is underway, in which the penetration of the materials by particles with diameters between 0.05 and 0.5 ..mu..m is being measured and the effectiveness of the methods for dose reduction in the presence of radioactive aerosols is being modeled.

• Research Organization: Harvard Univ., Boston, MA (USA). School of Public Health
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5532576
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-2958; SAND-82-7084; ON: DE84001184
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

570000* -- Health & Safety
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AEROSOLS
CLOTHING
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
INHALATION
INTAKE
LEAK TESTING
NUMERICAL DATA
PARTICLE SIZE
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RESPIRATORS
SIZE
SOLS
TESTING