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Wearing an N95 respirator concurrently with a powered air-purifying respirator: effect on protection factor.
- Source :
- Respiratory Care; Dec2008, Vol. 53 Issue 12, p1685-1690, 6p
- Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To determine if using an N95 filtering face-piece respirator concurrently with a loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) offers additional protection to the wearer. METHODS: We used a breathing mannequin programmed to deliver minute volumes of 25 L/min and 40 L/min. We measured the baseline protection factor of the PAPR with its motor operational and then deactivated (to simulate mechanical or battery failure). We tested 3 replicates of 3 different N95 models. We glued each N95 to the breathing mannequin and obtained a minimum protection factor of 100 at 25 L/min. We then placed the PAPR on the mannequin and took protection factor measurements with the N95-plus-PAPR combination, at 25 L/min and 40 L/min, with the PAPR operational and then deactivated. RESULTS: The N95 significantly increased the PAPR's protection factor, even with the PAPR deactivated. The effect was multiplicative, not merely additive. CONCLUSIONS: An N95 decreases the concentration of airborne particles inspired by the wearer of a PAPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00201324
- Volume :
- 53
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Respiratory Care
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 105597998