Effect of feedback on reduction of respirator leakage associated with mask donning

Abstract EN

The purpose of this study was to : 1) assess the quality of fit for full face and half face respirators ; 2) evaluate the effect of "feedback" on respirator leak rate ; and 3) evaluate the "donning effect".

Ten study volunteers consisting of five males and five females were recruited for this study.

They were subjected to daily leak rate measurements for full and half face respirators for a period of five consecutive days.

Half mask respirators have significantly lower leak rate than full face respirators (p-value < 0.0001).

Feedback provided during the fit testing significantly improved the respirator fit and reduced leak rates by several hundredfold (p-value < 0.0001).

Multi-ple donnings performed each day had no significant effect on daily leak rate measurements for both respirator types.

The findings indicate that the respirator leak rates are significantly lower in half mask respirators, especially when subjects were given feedback about their fit testing.

The finding is contradictory to American National Standard Instituteís (ANSI) guidelines of higher Assigned Protection Factor (APF) for full mask respirator.

Further studies are necessary to assess this finding and to amend respirator recommendations in the future.