Overview of Development on Self-Inhalation Filter Type Respiratory Protective Technology Against Polluted Air in Residential Environment

Abstract

There are many types of respirators used in residential environment for individual respiratory protection. Many factors may influence the protective performance of respirators. This paper tries to review the factors in the research development of self-inhalation filter type respiratory protective technology against polluted air in residential environment. Those factors mainly include the leakage; respirator fit test panels, constructing fibers and respirator performance test method. The conclusions from the reviewed literatures show that: (1) the leakage of respirator worn on individuals may be an important reason for the decrease of respirator’s protection. (2) The respirator fit test panels should be developed in advance because they are vital to the good design and the valid test of respirators. (3) The fibers for the filtering part of respirators may be also important to the protective performance of the respirators. Low inhalation resistance and high filtering efficiency are the expectation to a good respirator. (4) The respirator test method applied for evaluating the protective performance depends on the location or environment of the used respirator. Howsoever, the challenge and the most penetrating particle size should be considered before confirming the respirator test method.