Low Cost Active End-of-Service-Life Indicator for Respirator Cartridges

Project Summary Air purifying respirators are worn in occupational settings to protect against respiratory hazardsincluding toxic vapors and gasesUnfortunatelythe user generally does not know when to change the cartridge before breakthrough occursIt is therefore essential to have an end of service life indicatorESLIsystem integrated with the respirator cartridge to warn the user when it is time to change cartridgesCurrent challenges in developing ESLI systems include the effects of humidityas well as selectivitysizeweightand power restrictionsAdditionallymanufacturers prefer to limit sensor costs to about $per cartridgeand $$for sensor related fixtures and electronicsOnly a limited number of colorimetric passive ESLIs are commercially availableand they rely on subjective visual identification of a color changeUsers must routinely monitor the sensor for color changewhich distracts from their workNo active ESLI is NIOSH approvedIntelligent Optical SystemsIncIOSproposes to develop a low cost active ESLI system by incorporating sensitive optical fibers into the respiratory cartridge to monitor for contaminantsan audible visual alarm will be triggered when the cartridge reachessaturation Project Narrative The objective of this work is to develop a low cost End of Service Life IndicatorESLIsystem to actively warn the user when it is time to change cartridges to ensure that the respiratory cartridges are efficient and safe