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Related Experiment Videos

Particle concentration in exhaled breath.

C I Fairchild1, J F Stampfer

  • 1Industrial Hygiene Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM 87545.

American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
|November 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary

Particle concentrations in exhaled breath increase with exercise intensity. These exhaled particles can impact the effectiveness of respirator fit testing using ambient aerosols.

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Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • Respiratory Science
  • Environmental Monitoring

Background:

  • Respirator fit testing is crucial for ensuring worker protection.
  • Ambient aerosols are commonly used for fit testing but can be affected by exhaled breath.
  • Understanding exhaled particle concentrations is necessary to refine fit testing methodologies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify particle concentrations in exhaled breath under varying exercise conditions.
  • To assess the influence of physical activity on exhaled particle counts.
  • To determine the implications of exhaled particles for respirator fit testing.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a laser light scattering particle spectrometer to measure particle number concentrations.
  • Tested subjects under controlled conditions, including rest and exercise.
  • Employed clean, dry air as the challenge environment and took precautions against extraneous particle generation.

Main Results:

  • Exhaled particle concentrations ranged from less than 0.1 to approximately 4 particles/cm³.
  • Subjects at rest exhibited the lowest particle concentrations.
  • Increased respiration rates during exercise led to significantly higher exhaled particle counts.

Conclusions:

  • Exhaled particle concentration is directly influenced by exercise intensity and respiration rate.
  • High concentrations of exhaled particles can interfere with the accuracy of fit testing for respirators.
  • Current fit testing methods using ambient aerosols may be limited by the variability of exhaled breath particles.

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