Journal article
The effect of simulated air conditions on N95 filtering facepiece respirators performance
Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, Vol.13(7), pp.491-500
07/02/2016
DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2016.1143950
PMID: 26861653
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of several simulated air environmental conditions on the particle penetration and the breathing resistance of two N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) models. The particle penetration and breathing resistance of the respirators were evaluated in a test system developed to mimic inhalation and exhalation breathing while relative humidity and temperature were modified. Breathing resistance was measured over 120 min using a calibrated pressure transducer under four different temperature and relative humidity conditions without aerosol loading. Particle penetration was evaluated before and after the breathing resistance test at room conditions using a sodium chloride aerosol measured with a scanning mobility particle sizer. Results demonstrated that increasing relative humidity and lowering external temperature caused significant increases in breathing resistance (p < 0.001). However, these same conditions did not influence the penetration or most penetrating particle size of the tested FFRs. The increase in breathing resistance varied by FFR model suggesting that some FFR media are less influenced by high relative humidity.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The effect of simulated air conditions on N95 filtering facepiece respirators performance
- Creators
- Joel A Ramirez - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, The University of IowaPatrick T O'Shaughnessy - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, Vol.13(7), pp.491-500
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- DOI
- 10.1080/15459624.2016.1143950
- PMID
- 26861653
- ISSN
- 1545-9624
- eISSN
- 1545-9632
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/02/2016
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9983997483602771
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