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Article| Volume 21, ISSUE 4, P167-173, August 01, 1993

Aerosol penetration and leakae characteristics of masks used in the health care industry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0196-6553(93)90027-2
Aerosol penetration and leakae characteristics of masks used in the health care industry
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      Abstract

      Background: Historically, surgical masks have been worn to protect patients from being infected by large, pathogen-containing aerosol droplets emitted by health care personnel. Today, emphasis has shifted from solely protecting the patient to protecting the health care worker as well. As a result of new procedures used in operating rooms and clinical areas, aerosolized hazardous agents in the submicrometer size range are being produced, posing a potential threat to health care workers.
      Methods: Eight surgical masks were tested for aerosol particle penetration through their filter media and through induced face-seal leaks.
      Results: The percentage of filter penetration ranged from 20% to nearly 100% for submicrometer-sized particles. In comparison, a dust-mist-fume respirator used in industrial settings had significantly less penetration through its filter medium. When the surgical masks had artificially induced face-seal leaks, the concentration of submicrometer-sized particles inside the mask increased slightly; in contrast, the more protective dust-mist-fume respirator showed a fourfold increase in aerosol penetration into the mask with an artificial leak 4 mm in diameter.
      Conclusion: We conclude that the protection provided by surgical masks may be insufficient in environments containing potentially hazardous submicrometer-sized aerosols.

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      Article Info

      Footnotes

      ☆Supported by grant number 1 R01 OH02948-01 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the Institute's official views. A.W. was supported by a stipend for graduate education awarded by the University of Cincinnati.

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0196-6553(93)90027-2

      Copyright

      © 1993 Published by Elsevier Inc.

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