[Analysis of the actual protective effect and its influencing factors of respiratory protective equipment for trichloroethylene-exposed workers].

Abstract

Objective: To understand the current status of the actual protective effect of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) for workers exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE), and to explore the factors affecting the actual protective effect. Methods: From July to December 2023, a total of 75 workers occupationally exposed to TCE from 21 hardware and electronics manufacturing facilities in a province were selected as research objects by convenient sampling method. Workplace protection factor (WPF) was used as an index to evaluate the actual protective effect of workers' RPE. The concentration of TCE inside and outside the RPE was detected to calculate WPE, and the temperature, humidity and wind speed near the working place were measured, as well as the forced vital capacity, respiratory rate, heart rate and other indicators of the worker were measured. The log-transformed WPF value (lgWPF) followed a normal distribution. One-sample t-test was used to compare the difference between the mean lgWPF and the log value of the assigned protection factor (APF) of the half mask (lgAPF=1). Multiple linear regression model was used to investigate the influencing factors of lgWPF. Results: The lgWPF of 75 TCE-exposed workers ranged from 0.40 to 1.32 (0.84±0.22). The mean of lgWPF was lower than that of lgAPF, and the difference was statistically significant (t=-6.37, P<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the results of multiple linear regression showed that humidity, forced vital capacity and respiratory rate were negatively correlated with lgWPF (β=-0.008, -0.079, -0.021, P<0.05) . Conclusion: The actual protective efficacy of RPE among workers exposed to TCE is suboptimal. High humidity, elevated forced vital capacity, and increased respiratory rate may be contributing factors to the diminished protective performance of RPE.