The Measurement of Leakage of Respirators

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Abstract
Four types of respirators used at Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories were tested for leakage on personnel who frequently wear them during their work. The method involves wearing the respirator in an atmosphere containing submicron particles of sodium chloride then measuring, by means of a flame photometer, the sodium content of the exhaled breath. About 60 full-face and 100 oronasal filter respirators were tested. Smaller numbers of supplied-air masks and the facepieces of self-contained breathing apparatus were also checked. Results indicated that some subjects wearing full-face respirators which they fitted themselves experienced leakage around the facepieces amounting to as much as 5% of the inspired air. Facepiece leakage with oronasal respirators exceeded 20% of the inspired air in some instances. Neither type of air-supplied device leaked significantly as long as the air supply was adequate.

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