Abstract
The seal of a respirator to a worker's face can be influenced by the worker's facial dimensions. Males and females of the same and different racial/ethnic backgrounds exhibit different facial dimension measurements. This research was conducted to ascertain the relationship between facial dimensions influenced by race/ethnicity and gender to respirator fit. Facial dimensions and respirator fit were measured on 186 subjects from three racial/ethnic groups: 34 white American females, 32 white American males, 29 African-American females, 29 African-American males, 30 Mexican-American males, and 32 Mexican-American females. Fourteen facial dimension measurements were measured on each subject. A multiple analysis of variance indicated that facial dimensions between gender and race/ethnicity were significantly different (p = 0.0001). Quantitative fit tests were performed on each subject using the TSI PortaCount™ and MSA Advantage half-mask, air-purifying respirators. Subjects were fit with a small, medium, or large respirator, and respirator fit was measured by the calculation of a fit factor for each subject. Fit factor data were log transformed (LNFFs) to achieve a normal distribution. A Pearson's correlation between facial dimensions and LNFFs indicated that only nose protrusion was significantly associated with respirator fit (p = 0.0296). A multiple analysis of variance indicated that facial dimensions based on gender, race/ethnicity, and the interaction of the two were not significantly associated with respirator fit. Linear regression analysis indicated that nose protrusion and nose width accounted for 4.45 percent of the variance observed in respirator fit. It was concluded that respirator fit was not associated with facial dimensions based on race/ethnicity or gender. Respirator fit seemed to be associated with individual facial characteristics rather than facial characteristics associated with racial/ethnic groups or gender.
