Performance Evaluation and Usage Guidelines for Iodine Adsorption Cartridges for Gas Respirators under Similar Environmental Conditions to those of the Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Abstract

A quantitative assessment was carried out to evaluate the performance of iodine adsorption cartridges attached to gas and powered air-purifying respirators, under radioactive iodine concentrations, temperatures, and humidity conditions simulating the post-earthquake conditions at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The test was conducted at the temperature of 30℃, the radioactive iodine concentration (radioactive methyl iodine concentration) and humidity conditions were varied, radioactive methyl iodine was directly aerated into the adsorption cartridges for a maximum of 10 hours, and the radioactive iodine removal performance of the adsorption cartridges was assessed. Some adsorption cartridges demonstrated a radioactive iodine removal performance of 10 hours or more, while the performance of others decreased with higher relative humidity. Based on the results of these performance assessments, respirator-wearing guidelines at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station were established.