Penetration of Diesel Exhaust Particles Through Commercially Available Dust Half Masks

Annals of Occupational Hygiene, Apr 2013

Half masks are certified by the competent, national institutions—National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the USA and the respective European national institutions applying common European regulations. However, certification testing is conducted with particles of NaCl, paraffin oil, or dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and at the constant flow rate, whereas particles commonly found in workplaces may differ in size, shape, and morphology from these particles. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate filtration efficiency of commercially available filtering facepiece half masks under the condition of exposure to diesel fumes. In this study, we focused on the particulate phase [diesel exhaust particles (DEP)] of three (petroleum diesel, ecodiesel, and biodiesel) diesel fuel combustion types. Two types of European standard-certified half masks, FFP2 and FFP - Filtering Facepiece, and three types of popular diesel fuels were tested. The study showed that the filtration efficiencies for each examined half mask and for each of diesel exhaust fumes were lower than the minimum filtration efficiency required for the standard test aerosols by the European standards. For FFP2 and FFP3 particulate half masks, standard minimum filtration efficiency is 94 and 99%, respectively, whereas 84–89% of mass of DEP from various fuels were filtered by the tested FFP2 and only 75–86% by the FFP3. The study indicated that DEP is more penetrating for these filters than the standard salt or paraffin oil test aerosols. The study also showed that the most penetrating DEP are probably in the 30- to 300-nm size range, regardless of the fuel type and the half-mask model. Finally, the pressure drops across both half masks during the 80-min tests remained below an acceptable maximum of breathing resistance—regardless of the fuel types. The respiratory system, during 40-min test exposures, may be exposed to 12–16mg of DEP if a FFP2 or FFP3 particulate half mask is used. To conclude, commercially available half masks may not ensure a sufficient level of protection of the respiratory tract against diesel exhaust fumes.

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Penetration of Diesel Exhaust Particles Through Commercially Available Dust Half Masks

Ag ATA PEn Con Ek 0 P Aulin 0 A Dryk 0 Ark ADiusz 0 0 Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology , Waryskiego 1, 00-645 Warsaw, Poland Half masks are certified by the competent, national institutionsNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the USA and the respective European national institutions applying common European regulations. However, certification testing is conducted with particles of NaCl, paraffin oil, or dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and at the constant flow rate, whereas particles commonly found in workplaces may differ in size, shape, and morphology from these particles. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate filtration efficiency of commercially available filtering facepiece half masks under the condition of exposure to diesel fumes. In this study, we focused on the particulate phase [diesel exhaust particles (DEP)] of three (petroleum diesel, ecodiesel, and biodiesel) diesel fuel combustion types. Two types of European standard-certified half masks, FFP2 and FFP - Filtering Facepiece, and three types of popular diesel fuels were tested. The study showed that the filtration efficiencies for each examined half mask and for each of diesel exhaust fumes were lower than the minimum filtration efficiency required for the standard test aerosols by the European standards. For FFP2 and FFP3 particulate half masks, standard minimum filtration efficiency is 94 and 99%, respectively, whereas 84-89% of mass of DEP from various fuels were filtered by the tested FFP2 and only 75-86% by the FFP3. The study indicated that DEP is more penetrating for these filters than the standard salt or paraffin oil test aerosols. The study also showed that the most penetrating DEP are probably in the 30- to 300-nm size range, regardless of the fuel type and the half-mask model. Finally, the pressure drops across both half masks during the 80-min tests remained below an acceptable maximum of breathing resistanceregardless of the fuel types. The respiratory system, during 40-min test exposures, may be exposed to 12-16 mg of DEP if a FFP2 or FFP3 particulate half mask is used. To conclude, commercially available half masks may not ensure a sufficient level of protection of the respiratory tract against diesel exhaust fumes. - In 2010, half of all newly registered cars were equipped with diesel engines (ACEA, 2010). The inhabitants of urban areas and nearly 3 million workers in Europe are exposed to diesel exhaust fumes (Groves and Cain, 2000; Kauppinen et al., *Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +48-22-234-64-15; Fax: +48-22-825-14-40 e-mail: 2000; Lewne et al., 2007). Diesel exhaust fumes are a complex mixture of gas phase and particle phase [diesel exhaust particles (DEP)]. DEP produced by diesel engines are a result of incomplete combustion of fuel. Nowadays, special filtration systems in cars are used to reduce number of particles emitted from diesel engines, but still the number of older cars having no filtration systems at all is high. Exposure to diesel fumes may cause airway inflammation, cardiovascular problem, asthma, or allergies (Fujieda et al., 1998; Norris et al., 1999; Salvi and Frew, 1998). International Agency for Research on Cancer classified (12 June 2012) diesel fumes as carcinogens to humans (Group 1). In addition, DEP form fractal-like aggregates with diameter ranging between 10 and 2000 nm, and various inorganic and organic compounds (often mutagenic and cytotoxic) are adsorbed on its surface. Thus, DEP may be easily inhaled, penetrate into the breathing system (Moskal et al., 2006, 2010a), and affect human health (Pope et al., 2002). DEPs size, shape, adsorbed compounds, and their amount depend on the age of an engine, its condition, load, additional equipment, and the type of fuel used (Krahl et al., 2003; Su et al., 2004; Burtscher 2005; Zhang et al., 2011). Differences in aggregates size and shape may influence the penetration of particles through fibrous filters and, as a consequence, the respiratory protection when particulate half masks are used. Particulate half masks are the most widespread form of respiratory protection equipment due to their price, convenience of use, and lightness (Huang et al., 2007). Testing and certifying standards for half masks are different in Europe and in the USA (Rengasamy et al., 2009). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in USA divides particulate-filtering respirators in three series, i.e. N, R, and P, as well as into three types, i.e. 95, 99, and 100 (minimum filtration efficiencies of 95, 99, and 99.97, respectively). For N series, polydisperse distribution of NaCl particles with Count Median Diameter (CMD) of 75 nm (20) is used for respirator testing, while for R- and P series a polydisperse distribution of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) particles with CMD of 185 nm (20) is used. Certification testing is made at the 85 lmin1 flow rate. European Nor (...truncated)


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Agata Penconek, Paulina Drążyk, Arkadiusz Moskal. Penetration of Diesel Exhaust Particles Through Commercially Available Dust Half Masks, Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 2013, pp. 360-373, 57/3, DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/mes074