title: Effect of Pregnancy Upon Facial Anthropometrics and Respirator Fit Testing.
abstract: Workers required to wear respirators must undergo additional respirator fit testing if a significant change in body weight occurs. Approximately 10% of working women of reproductive age will be pregnant and experience a significant change in weight, yet the effect of pregnancy-associated weight gain on respirator fit is unknown. Cephalo-facial anthropometric measurements and quantitative fit testing of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (N95 FFR) of 15 pregnant women and 15 matched, non-pregnant women were undertaken for comparisons between the groups. There were no significant differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women with respect to cephalo-facial anthropometric measurements or N95 FFR quantitative fit tests. Healthy pregnant workers, who adhere to the recommended weight gain limits of pregnancy, are unlikely to experience an increase in cephalo-facial dimensions that would mandate additional N95 FFR fit testing above that which is normally required on an annual basis.
authors.affiliation: a National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Roberge
authors.affiliation: a National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jung-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: a National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palmiero
authors.affiliation: a National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001835:Body Weight; D004867:Equipment Design; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008397:Masks / Q000592:standards; D008422:Materials Testing; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices / Q000592:standards*
keywords: N95 filtering facepiece respirators; cephalo-facial anthropometrics; pregnancy; respirator fit testing