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Comparative Performance Testing of Respirator versus Surgical Mask Using a Water Droplet Spray Model

Author

Listed:
  • Paul T. J. Scheepers

    (Department for Health Evidence, Research Laboratory Molecular Epidemiology, 6500 HB Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Contributed equally.)

  • Heiman F. L. Wertheim

    (Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Radboudumc Centre for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Contributed equally.)

  • Maurice van Dael

    (Department for Health Evidence, Research Laboratory Molecular Epidemiology, 6500 HB Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

  • Rob Anzion

    (Department for Health Evidence, Research Laboratory Molecular Epidemiology, 6500 HB Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

  • Henk Jan Holterman

    (Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Steven Teerenstra

    (Department for Health Evidence, Section Biostatistics, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

  • Martijn de Groot

    (Radboudumc REshape Center, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

  • Andreas Voss

    (Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Radboudumc Centre for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

  • Joost Hopman

    (Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Radboudumc Centre for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Background. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there was shortage of the standard respiratory protective equipment (RPE). The aim of this study was to develop a procedure to test the performance of alternative RPEs used in the care of COVID-19 patients. Methods. A laboratory-based test was developed to compare RPEs by total inward leakage (TIL). We used a crossflow nebulizer to produce a jet spray of 1–100 µm water droplets with a fluorescent marker. The RPEs were placed on a dummy head and sprayed at distances of 30 and 60 cm. The outcome was determined as the recovery of the fluorescent marker on a membrane filter placed on the mouth of the dummy head. Results. At 30 cm, a type IIR surgical mask gave a 17.7% lower TIL compared with an FFP2 respirator. At 60 cm, this difference was similar, with a 21.7% lower TIL for the surgical mask compared to the respirator. When adding a face shield, the TIL at 30 cm was further reduced by 9.5% for the respirator and 16.6% in the case of the surgical mask. Conclusions. A safe, fast and very sensitive test method was developed to assess the effectiveness of RPE by comparison under controlled conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul T. J. Scheepers & Heiman F. L. Wertheim & Maurice van Dael & Rob Anzion & Henk Jan Holterman & Steven Teerenstra & Martijn de Groot & Andreas Voss & Joost Hopman, 2021. "Comparative Performance Testing of Respirator versus Surgical Mask Using a Water Droplet Spray Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-9, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1599-:d:495721
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dyani Lewis, 2020. "Is the coronavirus airborne? Experts can’t agree," Nature, Nature, vol. 580(7802), pages 175-175, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew Viner & Stewart Ayrey, 2022. "Comment on Scheepers et al. Comparative Performance Testing of Respirator versus Surgical Mask Using a Water Droplet Spray Model. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 1599," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-3, May.

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