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Test for the Integrity of Environmental Tractor Cab Filtration Systems 

Authors: Ernest S. Moyer a;  William A. Heitbrink b; Paul A. Jensen c
Affiliations:   a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Laboratory Research Branch, Morgantown, West Virginia
b Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
c U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Atlanta, Georgia
DOI: 10.1080/15459620500297519
Publication Frequency: 12 issues per year
Published in: journal Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Volume 2, Issue 10 October 2005 , pages 516 - 523
First Published on: 01 October 2005
Formats available: HTML (English) : PDF (English)
Also incorporating: AIHA Journal
Article Requests: Order Reprints : Request Permissions


Abstract

Cab filtration systems can be used to protect vehicle operators from hazardous air contaminants. In a cab filtration system, a fan draws air through filters and pressurizes the cab with this filtered air. This article describes the application of a low-cost, optical particle counter to evaluate the performance of tractor cab filtration systems. The tractors were equipped with environmental enclosures to protect the operators from pesticide exposures that occur during air blast spraying in orchards. Prior to testing, all environmental tractor cabs underwent a complete maintenance overhaul followed by a careful inspection by the manufacturer's field representative. As part of this maintenance effort, 13 tractors with cab filtration systems were tested in an enclosure. A Met One model 227B two-channel optical particle counter was used to measure the aerosol concentration outside and inside the cab. Ambient aerosol and/or aerosol generated by burning incense sticks were used to challenge the stationary cab filtration system in an enclosure. The ratio of the outside to inside concentration (Co/Ci) is the exposure reduction attained by the cab system. Alternatively, the inside concentration divided by the outside concentration times 100 (Ci/Co times 100) gives the percent penetration. All 13 tractors were tested for leak sites. Leak sites were identified and sealed. This process was repeated until each cab showed an exposure reduction ratio Co/Ci of at least 50 (aerosol penetration into the cab Ci/Co times 100 was less than 2%) at the 0.3-0.5 μ m particle size interval.
Keywords: agricultural workers; environmental enclosures; tractor cabs
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