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. 2009 Spring-Summer;26(3):54-70.

Filtration Performance of FDA-Cleared Surgical Masks

Samy Rengasamy  1 , Adam Miller  1 , Benjamin C Eimer  2 , Ronald E Shaffer  1
Affiliations

Filtration Performance of FDA-Cleared Surgical Masks

Samy Rengasamy et al. J Int Soc Respir Prot. 2009 Spring-Summer.

Abstract

Ashortage of NIOSH-approved respirators is predicted during an influenza pandemic and other infectious disease outbreaks. Healthcare workers may use surgical masks instead of respirators due to non-availability and for economical reasons. This study investigated the filtration performance of surgical masks for a wide size range of submicron particles including the sizes of many viruses. Five models of FDA-cleared surgical masks were tested for room air particle penetrations at constant and cyclic flow conditions. Penetrations of polydisperse NaCl aerosols (75±20 nm, count median diameter), monodisperse NaCl aerosols (20-400 nm range) and particles in the 20-1000 nm range were measured at 30 and 85 liters/min. Filtration performance of surgical masks varied widely for room air particles at constant flow and correlated with the penetration levels measured under cyclic flow conditions. Room air particle penetration levels were comparable to polydisperse and monodisperse aerosol penetrations at 30 and 85 liters/minute. Filtration performance of FDA-cleared surgical masks varied widely for room air particles, and monodisperse and polydisperse aerosols. The results suggest that not all FDA-cleared surgical masks will provide similar levels of protection to wearers against infectious aerosols in the size range of many viruses.

Keywords: Filtration performance; Nanoparticles; Particle penetration; Surgical mask; Virus particles.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Schematic diagram of constant flow room air particle penetration test system.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Schematic diagram of cyclic flow room air particle test system.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Percentage penetration levels of control (empty bars) and charge neutralized (hatched bars) room air particles for surgical masks at 6, 30 and 85 liters/minute constant flow rates.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Size dependent penetration data from SMPS measurements of room aerosol at 85 liters/minute flow rate. A, B, C, D and E represent different surgical mask models.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Correlation of surgical mask penetration levels at constant flow rates with penetration levels measured at cyclic flow conditions. Straight lines are linear best fit lines of the two data sets.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Polydisperse aerosol penetration levels of five surgical mask models as measured by a TSI 8130 at 30 and 85 liters/minute.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Monodisperse aerosol penetration levels of surgical masks as recorded by a TSI 3160. A, B, C, D and E represent surgical mask models.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Monodisperse aerosol penetration data for isopropanol (IP) treated surgical masks measured with a TSI 3160. A, B, C, D and E represent surgical mask models.
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