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Performance of N95 respirators: filtration efficiency for airborne microbial and inert particles.

Qian Y; Willeke K; Grinshpun SA; Donnelly J; Coffey CC

Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1998 Feb; 59(2):128-132

https://doi.org/10.1080/15428119891010389

20023155

In 1995 the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health issued new regulations for nonpowered particulate respirators (42 CFR Part 84). A new filter certification system also was created. Among the new particulate respirators that have entered the market, the N95 respirator is the most commonly used in industrial and health care environments. The filtration efficiencies of unloaded N95 particulate respirators have been compared with those of dust/mist (DM) and dust/fume/mist (DFM) respirators certified under the former regulations (30 CFR Part 11). Through laboratory tests with NaCl certification aerosols and measurements with particle-size spectrometers, N95 respirators were found to have higher filtration efficiencies than DM and DFM respirators and noncertified surgical masks. N95 respirators made by different companies were found to have different filtration efficiencies for the most penetrating particle size (0.1 to 0.3 micron), but all were at least 95% efficient at that size for NaCl particles. Above the most penetrating particle size the filtration efficiency increases with size; it reaches approximately 99.5% or higher at about 0.75 micron. Tests with bacteria of size and shape similar to Mycobacterium tuberculosis also showed filtration efficiencies of 99.5% or higher. Experimental data were used to calculate the aerosol mass concentrations inside the respirator when worn in representative work environments. The penetrated mass fractions, in the absence of face leakage, ranged from 0.02% for large particle distributions to 1.8% for submicrometer-size welding fumes. Thus, N95 respirators provide excellent protection against airborne particles when there is a good face seal.

Performance-capability; Filtration; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Respirators; Dust-measurement; Spectrographic-analysis; Particulate-dust; Infectious-diseases; Infection-control; Respiratory-protective-equipment; Respiratory-protection; Personal-protective-equipment; Personal-protection; Author Keywords: efficiency; filter; microorganism; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; respirator

Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056

AIHAAP

19980201

Journal Article

klaus.willeke@uc.edu

746102

Grant

1998

Grant-Number-R01-OH-003244

2

0002-8894

DRDS

Respirator Research

American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal

OH

University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio