Powered air-purifying respirator study: Final report
Three brands of powered air-purifying respirators were subjected to a simulated-work-place study. They were worn by six human subjects while working at 80% of their cardiac reserve on a treadmill. The air flow into the respirator was controlled to match that of a respirator with a newly charged battery and with various stages of battery discharge and filter plugging. The simulation took place in a large quantitative fit test chamber containing PEG 400 aerosol. The penetration of aerosol into the breathing zone of the respirator, the pressure in it, and the air flow were monitored while the subject was warming up as well as during the 80% tests. The exercises recommended in ANSI Z88.2 for helmets were also used after the 80% tests were completed. The subjects were tested clean shaven, with three days' growth of stubble, and with a two-month beard growth. A striking result was that the aerosol penetration into the two-helmet respirators increased dramatically as the subjects work rate increased. On the other hand, penetration into the half mask did not change with work rate. The penetration increased as the air flow was decreased in all cases for the helmets and for beard and stubble cases for the half mask. However, for he tight-fitting half mask on a clean-shaven face, the average penetration stayed below 0.001 for all flows. 18 figs, 5 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 7009489
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-53757; ON: DE87005579
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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