Evaluation of Respirator Cartridges for Effectiveness of Chlorine Dioxide Removal

Abstract

Programs addressing the protection of workers against exposure to gas phase chlorine dioxide often include provisions for the use of commercially available respirator devices. One problem confronting these programs has been that the ability of respirators to remove chlorine dioxide has not been documented. This is due primarily to the difficulty (and possible hazard) associated with the generation of chlorine dioxide in the high concentrations and large volumes required by the NIOSH respirator cartridge testing protocols. These problems were overcome by evaluating respirator cartridges in an outdoor environment at the chlorine dioxide generation facility of a large bleached pulp manufacturing company, employing testing as per 30 CFR Part 11, Subpart L, paragraph 11.162-8, under conditions required for chlorine cartridge testing. The results showed that all extended-use cartridges tested attenuated chlorine dioxide to such a degree that the time/concentration acceptability requirements of the test protocol (based upon the NIOSH acceptability requirements for chlorine respirators) were met.