Technical Bulletin No. 0470: Evaluation of Several Types and Brands of Respirator Cartridges for Chlorine Dioxide Attenuation

Industry industrial hygienists who serve as advisors to NCASI staff suggested a study of the performance of commercially available air purifying chemical cartridge respirators for use in protecting workers in areas where chlorine dioxide is manufactured, stored, and utilized for pulp bleaching, against accidental inhalation exposure to chlorine dioxide was of high importance. Although respirators were available which were certified for use in providing protection against chlorine inhalation exposure, none of the commercially available cartridges had been tested for the attenuation of gaseous chlorine dioxide. In order to address this information need, National Council staff (a) devised a respirator cartridge testing protocol for chlorine dioxide, based upon the NIOSH testing protocol for respirator cartridges which are to be employed to provide worker protection against chlorine inhalation exposure: (b) reviewed this protocol with, and received approval from, NIOSH personnel responsible for respirator cartridge testing; and (c) conducted the cartridge evaluation study at the chlorine dioxide generation facility of a bleached kraft pulp mill.