Performance of a new model of nasal filter when challenged against PM1 aerosols

Nasal filters are increasingly used in reducing personal haze exposures, but there is no retrievable evidence on its efficiency. In this study, a nasal filter testing system was designed. NaCl aerosols were generated to simulate PM1. Three different sizes of a new model of nasal filter were tested u...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEnvironmental pollutants & bioavailability Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 388 - 394
Main Authors Zhu, Jintuo, Jing, Pengli, Hao, Yaxin, He, Xinjian, Wang, Liang, Zhang, Ruxue, Liu, Jinyu
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Taylor & Francis 01.01.2021
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Taylor & Francis Group
Subjects
Aerosols
air pollution
Filters
Flow rates
Flow resistance
Flow velocity
Haze
nasal filter
Penetration
pm1
respiratory protection
Sodium chloride
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Summary:Nasal filters are increasingly used in reducing personal haze exposures, but there is no retrievable evidence on its efficiency. In this study, a nasal filter testing system was designed. NaCl aerosols were generated to simulate PM1. Three different sizes of a new model of nasal filter were tested under two flow types (constant vs. cyclic) and three flow rates (15, 30, and 50 L/min). All PM1 penetration values were > 80%. Either enlarging filter size or lowering flow rate significantly reduced PM1 penetration, and PM1 penetration under cyclic flow was significantly higher compared with constant flow. To avoid mouth breathing, nasal filters could only be worn under light work-rates or rest conditions. The quality factor of nasal filters was only hundredths that of the N95 and P100 FFRs. This study reveals that there is a future need to design nasal filter materials with higher efficiency and lower flow resistance.
ISSN:2639-5932
2639-5940
DOI:10.1080/26395940.2021.1991847