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Protection of Firefighters against Combustion Aerosol Particles: Simulated Workplace Protection Factor of a Half-Mask Respirator

Dietrich, James C, Jr.

Abstract Details

2014, MS, University of Cincinnati, Medicine: Industrial Hygiene (Environmental Health).
The aim of the present pilot study was to investigate the penetration of ultrafine particles originated by combustion of different materials into elastomeric half-mask respirators equipped with two P100 filters. We determined the Simulated Workplace Protection Factor (SWPF) for 11 firefighters wearing elastomeric half-mask respirators and performing activities simulating those conducted during fire overhaul operations. The tests were performed in a controlled laboratory setting. A newly-developed battery-operated Portable Aerosol Mobility Spectrometer (PAMS) was used to measure size-resolved aerosol particle concentrations outside (Cout) and inside (Cin) of an air-purifying respirator donned on a firefighter, and the SWPF was calculated as Cout/Cin. Based on the total aerosol concentration, the “total” SWPF ranged from 4,222 (minimum) to 35,534 (maximum) with values falling primarily in a range from ~103 (25 percentile) to 26×103 (75 percentile) and a median value being ˜15×103. This is consistent with the recently reported fit factor (FF) data base for the same respirator model. The size-resolved SWPF data revealed a dependency on the particle size. It was concluded that a portable device such as PAMS can be used on firefighters during overhaul operations (as well as on other workers wearing elastomeric half-mask respirators) to monitor the aerosol concentrations in real time and ultimately help prevent overexposure.
Sergey Grinshpun, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Tiina Reponen, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
37 p.

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Citations

  • Dietrich, Jr., J. C. (2014). Protection of Firefighters against Combustion Aerosol Particles: Simulated Workplace Protection Factor of a Half-Mask Respirator [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1413819812

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dietrich, Jr., James. Protection of Firefighters against Combustion Aerosol Particles: Simulated Workplace Protection Factor of a Half-Mask Respirator. 2014. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1413819812.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dietrich, Jr., James. "Protection of Firefighters against Combustion Aerosol Particles: Simulated Workplace Protection Factor of a Half-Mask Respirator." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1413819812

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)