A new peer-reviewed study has revealed that personal protective equipment (PPE) has only a limited effect in reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from humans in cleanroom environments.
These emissions could pose both contamination and health risks.
The research, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, was conducted by scientists from Hunan University, the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, and TOFWERK China.
The team used high-resolution Vocus time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) technology, developed by TOFWERK, a scientific instrument company headquartered in Thun, Switzerland, to characterise VOC emissions from human breath and skin under various conditions.
Using a controlled cleanroom chamber, researchers measured VOC emissions under different levels of physical activity and PPE usage.
[QUOTE] A new peer-reviewed study has revealed that personal protective equipment has only a limited effect in reducing volatile organic compound emissions from humans in cleanroom environments
Results showed that while PPE slightly reduced some skin-emitted VOCs, it had minimal impact overall and in some cases led to a slight increase in breath-related emissions.
Notably, the research found that VOC emissions varied significantly depending on gender, posture, and time of PPE use.
The study identifies acetone and isoprene as the most prominent skin-emitted compounds, with breath emissions including potentially harmful substances such as acrolein and acetaldehyde, both of which present significant health risks and contribute to cleanroom contamination.
As industries demand higher levels of purity in cleanroom manufacturing, particularly in sectors such as semiconductor production and biotechnology, understanding the sources of contamination becomes increasingly vital.
[QUOTE] The research found that VOC emissions varied significantly depending on gender, posture, and time of PPE use
While emissions from materials and equipment have improved through engineering controls, human-generated emissions remain a major concern.
This study addresses a long-standing knowledge gap, as previous research in indoor environments could not isolate human-specific VOC sources with the same precision.
Researchers highlighted how human-emitted VOCs can interact with oxidants present in cleanroom environments to form secondary organic aerosols, which further degrade air quality.
These findings support the need for more targeted PPE innovation and the adoption of real-time air quality monitoring strategies in cleanrooms.
[QUOTE] The study identifies acetone and isoprene as the most prominent skin-emitted compounds
TOFWERK’s Vocus technology enabled real-time, high-resolution emission profiling, offering new insight into how VOC emissions fluctuate based on user activity, duration of PPE wear, and physical state.
The company’s TOFMS instruments are widely used in atmospheric chemistry, indoor air quality monitoring, and industrial applications.
The study concludes that current PPE solutions may be insufficient to fully mitigate the risks posed by human VOC emissions and calls for enhanced materials and design approaches, alongside better monitoring systems, to maintain stringent cleanroom standards and protect occupant health.
Top image: The team used high-resolution Vocus time-of-flight mass spectrometry