ASSIGNED PROTECTION FACTORS FOR TWO RESPIRATOR TYPES BASED UPON WORKPLACE PERFORMANCE TESTING

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Abstract
An industrial hygiene study was conducted in a primary lead smelter in the United States to investigate the appropriateness of the protection factors assigned to half-mask negative pressure air-purifying respirators and to powered air-purifying respirators. Personal sampling was conducted to determine actual workplace protection factors for respirators representing each of these respirator classes. Although the determination of assigned protection factors is influenced by the degree of confidence desired, a value of 10 was concluded to be generally acceptable for the half-mask negative pressure air-purifying respirator when used under the given study conditions. However, even an assigned protection factor of 500 was indicated to be an inappropriately high value for the half-mask powered air-purifying respirator, and a value not in excess of 50 is suggested as appropriate.