Performance of filter and isolator Respiratory Protective Devices in protecting against nanoparticles

Exposure to nanoparticles, be they manufactured or unintentional, concerns a growing population of workers. The specificities of these ultrafine particles require targeted study of performance of the collective and personal protective means implemented for reducing such exposure.

This study follows on from the work by the joint research unit the “Laboratoire de Filtration et Adsorption” (“Filtration and Absorption Laboratory) between INRS and the CNRS (French National Research Centre) research unit the “Laboratoire de Réaction et de Génie des Procédés” (“Process Engineering and Reaction Laboratory”). Its objective is to study the performance of Respiratory Protective Devices (RPDs) presenting high protection factors (full face mask, powered air purifying respirators, and supplied air respirators) in protecting against natural nanoparticles, of varying size and morphology. The effect of the respiratory of the RPD wearer will be simulated to take into account different working rates.

The objectives are:
- improved understanding of the performance of RPDs in protecting against nanoparticles, including their operating limits;
- validation of the INRS recommendations on wearing RPDs when handling nanomaterials; and
- obtaining methodological information both for reducing leaks at the face and also for any altering of the standardized protocols for testing the RPDs for specific use against nanoparticles.

Two types of dissemination are expected: international publication (on the methodology and the results) and publication applied to OSH (document helping with choosing RPDs for protecting against nanomaterials, pending exposure limit values).