title: Using half-facepiece respirators for H1N1.
abstract: A respirator is a device designed to help provide the wearer with respiratory protection against inhalation of airborne contaminants. Increasing the filtration level of a particle respirator does not increase the respirator's ability to reduce a user's exposure to contaminants. The APF of a respirator, which is affected by the respirator style, determines the potential for exposure reduction. Surgical masks that are not approved as filtering facepiece half-mask respirators do not have an APF and should not be used for reducing workers' exposures to particles in the air.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005374:Filtration; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008397:Masks / Q000592:standards; D009314:National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010316:Particle Size; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational