Breakthrough times of a commercially-available respirator cartridge packed with a small amount of activated carbon were determined by three different flow patterns: workers' respiratory patterns, conventional steady-state flows, and three standard patterns consisting of rectangle, sine, and triangle waves. A mechanical breathing simulator was used to reproduce the three standard wave patterns a...

This experiment was conducted to determine how much contaminant could be expected to be inhaled when overbreathing several different types of respirators. These included several tight-fitting and loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) and one air-purifying respirator (APR). CO(2) was used as a tracer gas in the ambient air, and several loose-and tight-fitting respirators were t...

STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine whether the use of respiratory protective equipment would reduce the incidence of occupational asthma due to exposure to hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA). DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING A facility that makes an epoxy resin product requiring HHPA for its manufacture. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-six individuals newly hired at a facility that makes an epoxy r...

A respirator filter of good quality has not only high aerosol collection efficiency but also low air resistance. "Quality factor", which is expressed with aerosol penetration and pressure drop, can be used to rank the performance of respirator filters within the same category. This study focuses on evaluating several respirator filters which are widely used in Korea using quality factor. Two me...

The techniques and methods of developing cost models for respirators are discussed. Models are developed and implemented in this study for nineteen types of respirators in two major classes (air-purifying and supplied-air) and one LEV system. One respirator model is selected for detailed discussion from among the twenty models. The technical cost method is used in constructing the cost models f...

Proper adherence to infection control precautions, including appropriate selection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), is of significant importance to the health and well-being of perioperative personnel. Surgical masks are intended for use as a barrier to protect the wearer's face from large droplets and splashes of blood and other body fluids; however, surgical and high-filtration...

The use of mouth intermittent positive pressure ventilation alone or in combination with other noninvasive respiratory techniques as an alternative to tracheostomy in the home management of respirator-dependent postpolio persons was studied in 75 patients. The onset of polio was at an average age of 15 years. At that time, all were dependent on some form of respiratory assistance, most frequent...

Glutaraldehyde is commonly used in hospitals for cold disinfection of instruments which may be damaged by autoclaving. The increased use of automatic washer/disinfection machines has resulted in a greater risk of spills than with manual methods. A series of experiments was conducted to answer two related research questions: what was the likely range of airborne concentrations when glutaraldehyd...