PARTICULATE CONTAMINANTS: SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION

As good as these filters are, they simply can’t do the job alone. Contaminants must be stopped at the source, and the greatest source is people. In our jobs, we’ll often be entering and leaving the cleanroom several times a day, and with each entry, we carry the potential of bringing hundreds of thousands of particles in with us.

Although the chemicals used, the work being done, and the equipment in the room itself all generate some contaminants, past studies have shown the largest single source, (roughly 35%) originates from the crews working inside.

Pie chart showing sources of contamination 10 years ago - 35% personnel, 25% equipment, 20% chemicals and 20% process.
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