Air-purifying respirators are commonly used for protection from hazardous atmospheres. Leakage through the respirator faceseal is a major source of exposure. Quantitative fit testing evaluates this leakage by exposing the respirator wearer to known challenge agent concentrations.
The selection of personal protective equipment requires accurate data on material resistance to permeation. Frequently, safety professionals are called upon to recommend appropriate materials for use in industrial situations where workers handle mixtures of solvents. Unfortunately, few references are available that consider the permeability of solvent mixtures.
