BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine the utility of an infrared camera (IRC) for assessing leaks around filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) during quantitative respirator fit testing. METHODS: Eight subjects underwent quantitative fit testing on six N95 FFR models (48 total fit tests) while simultaneously being recorded with an IRC. RESULTS: The IRC detected 49 exhalation leaks during 39 tests and no leaks in nine tests. Exhalation leaks were identified in all failed fit tests (13) and a majority (26 of 35) of passed tests. Anatomically, the nasal region and malar (cheekbone) regions accounted for 71% of identified leak sites. Fit factors for fit tests without identified exhalation leaks were significantly higher than fit tests with leaks detected by IRC (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Thermal imaging using IRC can detect leaks in respiratory protective equipment and has the potential as a screening tool for assessment of the adequacy of post-donning FFR fit.
BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine the utility of an infrared camera (IRC) for assessing leaks around filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) during quantitative respirator fit testing. METHODS: Eight subjects underwent quantitative fit testing on six N95 FFR models (48 total fit tests) while simultaneously being recorded with an IRC. RESULTS: The IRC detected 49 exhalation leaks during 39 tests and no leaks in nine tests. Exhalation leaks were identified in all failed fit tests (13) and a majority (26 of 35) of passed tests. Anatomically, the nasal region and malar (cheekbone) regions accounted for 71% of identified leak sites. Fit factors for fit tests without identified exhalation leaks were significantly higher than fit tests with leaks detected by IRC (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Thermal imaging using IRC can detect leaks in respiratory protective equipment and has the potential as a screening tool for assessment of the adequacy of post-donning FFR fit.
Authors: Kyungmin Jacob Cho; Leonid Turkevich; Matthew Miller; Roy McKay; Sergey A Grinshpun; KwonChul Ha; Tiina Reponen Journal: J Occup Environ Hyg Date: 2013 Impact factor: 2.155
Authors: Moira Johns; Sandy Kyaw; Rimen Lim; Warren C Stewart; Solomon R Thambiraj; Yahya Shehabi; David W Collins; Claudia M Whyte; Sumesh Arora Journal: Indian J Crit Care Med Date: 2021-09
Authors: Jung-Hyun Kim; Raymond J Roberge; Jeffrey B Powell; Ronald E Shaffer; Caroline M Ylitalo; John M Sebastian Journal: Int J Occup Med Environ Health Date: 2015 Impact factor: 1.843