Comparison of a sodium chloride aerosol filter test method to silica-dust and silica-mist filter test methods.

A LASL-developed sodium chloride aerosol filter penetration test has been compared to the silica-dust and silica-mist tests used by NIOSH for respirator approval testing. Filter discs were made from two types of resin impregnated electrostatic felt filter materials and tested at LASL for resistance to air flow and sodium chloride aerosol penetration. Sets of these filters were sent to four respirator manufacturing companies, where silica-dust and silica-mist penetration tests were performed. One set of filters was sent to NIOSH Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering in Cincinnati where sodium chloride aerosol penetration tests were performed by NIOSH personnel.