Performance Evaluation of Full Facepiece Respirators with Cartridges

“In addition to penetration through filter materials, the protection levels of respirators are also related to faceseal leakage (Grinshpun et al. , 2009; Mukhametzanov et al. , 2016).”

“Our previous studies also used the same concept and successfully evaluated performance of N95 filtering facepiece respirators, surgical masks and FFP series respirators (Lee et al. , 2008; Reponen et al. , 2009; Lee et al. , 2016).”

“Huang et al. (2013) also found that aerosol penetration through filter media increased with increasing face velocity.”

“The geometric mean (GM) of PFs of FFRs in this study was 97, which was higher by 3.6–4.9 folds than that indicated in EN-specified FF1 (GM = 19.6), FFP2 (GM = 27.1) or FFP3 (GM = 26.7), and higher by 57 folds than that of surgical masks (GM = 1.7) (Lee et al. , 2016).”

“Although face features such as bigonial breadth, face width, face length and nose protrusion might affect N95 respirator fit (Zhuang et al. , 2005), since we used full facepiece respirators instead, the respirator almost covered that entire face and the contact surface between the respirator and…”

“Based on fit testing results, faceseal leaks created in our study were quite small (average fit factor > 500), hence our results were expected to be similar with those with smaller leaks published by Chen and Willeke (1992).”

“…increased with particle size, but also varied depending on the types of pollutants (e.g., dust, fungi, bacteria, endotoxin, (1 → 3)-beta-D-glucan) (Lee et al. , 2005; Cho et al. , 2011), which indicated that both determination methods (e.g., sensitivity, working principle) as well as particle…”

“Price et al. (2014) also revealed that the measures of small particles (< 100 nm) and large particles (> 1 µm) using ELPI were slightly different from those determined by other instruments, which were mainly caused by various measurement principles, particle bounce, particle deagglomeration as well…”

“Rengasamy et al. (2010) found that the penetration of P100 filters increased after treating P100 filters with isopropanol.”

“Swearengen et al. (1988), Nelson et al. (1976c) and Yoon et al. (1992) all proved that the lower adsorption, the higher penetration efficiency of the organic vapor in the environment of more than two organic vapors; that was, the downstream concentration of organic vapor was increased with time.”

“In the literature review published by Shaffer and Rengasamy (2009), the MPPS in NIOSH certified respirators (P100, N99, and N95) or EU certified respirators (FFP1, FFP2, FFP3) were 200 nm or less. And in all respirators containing charged filters, the MPPS was less than 100 nm. In our study, the MPPS was between 40–60…”

“DOP aerosols have been proved to reduce electric charges on electrostatic filters due to charge neutralization (Biermann et al. , 1982) or ionic conduction through an oil film on the filter fibers (Tennal et al. , 1991).”

“Vo et al. (2015) conducted a simulated workplace protection factor (SWPF) study using half elastomeric masks and half filtering facepiece respirators along with N95 and P100 filters.”

“Discomfort, difficult to breath and poor fitting were principal factors preventing users from wearing respirators (Gutierrez et al. , 2014).”

“Mostofi et al. (2012) studied the penetration efficiency for N95 filtering facepiece respirators against NaCl particles using ELPI and scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS).”

“Their study also found that the MPPSs of P100 filters were approximately 40–80 nm, which is similar to those found for CE-marked filters (Serfozo et al., 2017).”

“Swearengen et al. (1988), Nelson et al. (1976c) and Yoon et al. (1992) all proved that the lower adsorption, the higher penetration efficiency of the organic vapor in the environment of more than two organic vapors; that was, the downstream concentration of organic vapor was increased with time.”

“Moreover, Rengasamy et al. (2013) discovered that the particle penetration efficiency (such as NaCl) for P100 filters loaded with DOP at lower amount was higher.”

“…size, but also varied depending on the types of pollutants (e.g., dust, fungi, bacteria, endotoxin, (1 → 3)-beta-D-glucan) (Lee et al. , 2005; Cho et al. , 2011), which indicated that both determination methods (e.g., sensitivity, working principle) as well as particle properties (e.g.,…”

“Tanaka et al. (1999) indicated that organic vapor with high boiling point and large molecular weight had longer breakthrough time due to strong adsorption.”

“Kuo et al. (2013) revealed that when a charcoal cartridge was loaded with liquid aerosols, the adsorption capacity of charcoal cartridge against organic gas was diminished along with shorter breakthrough time.”

“3) to collect particle concentrations from inside and outside of the respirator by using previous studies as references (Lee et al. , 2004; Lee et al. , 2005; Lee et al. , 2008).”

“In addition to penetration through filter materials, the protection levels of respirators are also related to faceseal leakage (Grinshpun et al. , 2009; Mukhametzanov et al. , 2016).”

“Swearengen et al. (1988), Nelson et al. (1976c) and Yoon et al. (1992) all proved that the lower adsorption, the higher penetration efficiency of the organic vapor in the environment of more than two organic vapors; that was, the downstream concentration of organic vapor was increased with time.”

“Following the procedure of National Standards of the Republic of China (CNS) 14,755 [40], the Automated Filter Tester (Model 8130, TSI, Shoreview, Minnesota, MN, USA) was used to measure the submicron particulate filtration efficiency or penetration effi-ciency of the masks to understand the…”

“Lee et al. (2017) reported face-seal leakage surrounding the chin and the cheeks for FFP-masks, because the masks did not fit all wearers.”

“Filtration efficiency:99.971% [32] have likewise demonstrated excellent protection against organic vapors and aerosols [38].”

“Hence, a facemask filter with an antibacterial function is urgently needed (Lee et al. , 2017; Rissler et al. , 2017).”

“For PPE, a respirator mask with chemical cartridges uses adsorption to trap harmful gases while handling these substances (Lee et al. 2017).”

“However, the components of the fungal cell wall (such as (1 → 3)- β -D-glucan) are also known to cause toxic reactions (Levetin, 1995; Husman, 1996) and to exacerbate allergic asthma (Zhang et al. , 2017).”