Study of the catching characteristics of the filtration elements of up-to-date respirators of protection classes FFP1 and FFP2 under the influence of welding aerosol

Abstract

The respirators has previously been widely used mostly by citizens of megapolises and of low- or middle-income countries to protect themselves from the air pollution. The detection of infectious respiratory aerosols of the same size as welding aerosols, combined with the disruption of the supply chain during the pandemic, highlights the need to develop material guidelines for face masks. Reusable sheet masks are environmentally friendly alternative to disposable ones. The article presents the study of the catching characteristics of the filter elements of up-to-date easily accessible models of respirators FFP1 and FFP2, exposed to welding aerosol containing suspended particles smaller than 10 µm (PM10). The purpose of the article is to provide evidence-based results for the selecting of suitable respirators. The high catching ability of respirators with multilayer protection, including those equipped with carbon filters, in relation to nano- and microparticles was revealed.