• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.5 s.81
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• pp.432-439
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• 2004

Korean certification regulation for particulate filtering respirators requires inward leakage (IL) test as European Standards (EN) and the standard levels of regulation are the same as those of EN. This study was conducted to evaluate particulate filtering respirators being commercially used in the market by using IL and assess the characteristics of IL. The study began with discussing the concept of IL, comparison of IL with fit test, and IL measurement method. Three brands of half masks and 10 brands of filtering facepieces (two top class, four 1st class and four 2nd class), total 13 brands respirators, and 10 test panels (subjects) who were classified in 9 facial grids in accordance with face length and lip length, were selected for IL test. IL tests were conducted in the laboratory of 3M Innovation Center which was established by EN standard. As expected ILs of half masks were lower than those of filtering facepiece mask. ILs of half masks and some filtering facepieces were significantly different in manufacturers. ILs of 1st class filtering facepieces were found to be much more than those of 2nd class and thus the result would cause wearers to get confused to select a mask. Four of six brands being no compliance with standards were thought that they should be tested again for certification because of a lot of differences from standards. There were no significant differences among ILs of five exercises. In 6 out of 13 brands lognormal distribution of ILs may be a better fit distribution and in 7 brands both lognormal and normal distributions were rejected. The result indicates that geometric mean may be better than arithmetic mean to establish standard.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2011

There is widespread concern that particulate filtering respirators (PFRs) available in Korea will be efficient for nanoparticles. The purpose of this review study was to analyse research literature and recommend PFRs suitable for protection against nanoparticles. In all studies, respirators containing electret filter media (N95, P100 and FFP2, FFP3) consistently have their MPPS below 100 nm and particle penetration levels at the MPPS can vary widely, but they comply with NIOSH or EN certification criterion. Electret filtering facepieces respirators (FFRs) were found to shift in the Most-Penetrating Particle Size(MPPS) from 30-60 to 200-300 nm range after the electric charges were removed, and FFRs were above their minimum penetrations of criterion. Korean special class and first class FFRs (the same as FFP3 and FFP2, respectively) would be effcient for nanoparticles unless FFRs are removed electric charges. It is difficult to evaluate if mechanical PFRs is efficient for nanoparticles due to the lack of related materials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.170-178
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• 2000

Most of manufacturers try to produce the most efficient filter for respirators with the lowest breathing resistance. Filter performance depends on low penetration, i.e., high efficiency (%), and low pressure drop ($mmH_2O$). This study was performed to evaluate performance of respirator filters by quality factor ($q_F$) and suggest the direction for improvement of respirator filters of good quality in Korea. Two mechanical filters, S and K made in Korea, three filtering facepieces, S made in China, C made in Korea and M made in USA, which were widely used in the workplace, were selected and tested efficiency and pressure drop in accordance with flow rate, using with Automated Filter Tester Model 8110 (TSI, USA). The best quality factor within the same respirator filter categories was $0.0672cm^{-1}\;H_2O$ for mechanical filter S, $0.0698cm^{-1}\;H_2O$ for filtering facepiece M at flow rate of 32Lpm. Mechanical filter S would be the best suitable during heavy work since qulity factors decrease less sharply than any others as increased flow rates. It was necessary for mechanical filter S to lower pressure drop without increasing efficiency, but mechanical filter K should be increased efficiency and decreased pressure drop. While filtering facepiece M had the best quality performance of three ones, Sand C should get much higher efficiency and lower pressure for better performance.