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Respirator fit factor performance while sweating.
1U.S. Army Edgewood Research, Development and Engineering Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-54234, USA.
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
|February 24, 1999
Summary
Respirator fit degrades significantly during exercise due to sweat accumulation. Facial sweating alone does not fully explain the reduced respirator fit factor (FF) over time.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Biomedical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Quantifying sweat accumulation inside respirators is crucial for understanding fit degradation.
- Previous studies have not fully assessed the impact of sweat on respirator performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure facial sweating and quantify its effect on the fit factor (FF) of negative pressure, full-facepiece respirators.
- To investigate the relationship between sweat accumulation and respirator fit during exercise.
Main Methods:
- 14 subjects performed 30 minutes of treadmill exercise at 75% maximal heart rate in an aerosol chamber.
- Respirator fit factor (FF) was measured, along with facial and whole-body sweat production.
- Statistical analysis was used to assess the correlation between sweat and FF.
Main Results:
- Respirator fit was significantly degraded (p < 0.05) after 14 minutes of exercise.
- Average sweat accumulation inside the facepiece was 30.9 +/- 15.5 g.
- No significant correlation was found between facial sweat production and overall FF values.
Conclusions:
- Respirator fit factors significantly degrade over time during moderate exercise in ambient conditions.
- Facial sweat accumulation alone does not fully explain the observed reduction in respirator fit levels.