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Title: Health and Safety Practices in the Nanomaterials Workplace: Results from an International Survey
Date: 5/2008
  Link to Journal Abstract
Abstract: Abstract: This article reports the findings of an international survey of nanomaterials firms and laboratories regarding their environmental health and safety (EHS) programs, engineering controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), exposure monitoring, waste disposal, product stewardship, and risk beliefs. While many participants reported not believing that nanomaterials pose special risks, nanospecific EHS programs were still widely reported. Most nanospecific EHS programs appeared to build from general EHS programs but included nanospecific workplace engineering controls and recommendations for clothing, gloves, eye protection, and respirators. Organizations with nanospecific EHS programs also reported providing product (safe use) guidance to consumers. However, workplace monitoring and nanospecific waste disposal were uneven and were only associated with the subset of organizations believing in special risks. A majority of organizations expressed a need for more toxicological information and EHS guidance. Overall, this study suggests that nanomaterials firms and laboratories are already attentive to nanospecific EHS and product stewardship issues. However, improved risk communication is needed to further the implementation of related programs. Organizations that are wholly inattentive to EHS would likely engage in nanospecific EHS upon implementing a staffed, general EHS program.
Non-technical Summary: This article describes the results of an international survey of the environmental health and safety practices of companies and laboratories that handle nanomaterials.
Content Emphasis Peer Reviewed Journal Article
Exposure Or Hazard Target Mammalian
Exposure Pathway Multiple
Method Of Study Other
Paper Type Hazard
Particle Type Multiple
Production Method Engineered
Risk Exposure Group Industrial/Research Worker
Target Audience Technical Research
Citation: Conti, J. A.; Killpack, K.; Gerritzen, G.; Huang, L.; Mircheva, M.; Delmas, M.; Harthorn, B. H.; Appelbaum, R. P.; Holden, P. A. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, DOI:10.1021/es702158q
Publication: Environmental Science & Technology
Author: Conti, J. A.; Killpack, K.; Gerritzen, G.; Huang, L.; Mircheva, M.; Delmas, M.; Harthorn, B. H.; Appelbaum, R. P.; Holden, P. A.
Volume: 42
Number: 9
Pages: 3155-3162
     


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This work is supported in part by the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Initiative of the National Science Foundation
under NSF Award Number EEC-0118007.

 		 
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