Exposure Assessment and Safety Considerations for Working with Engineered Nanoparticles

Addresses acceptable Nanoparticles levels of exposures and identifies best practices to follow to control such exposures

Exposure Assessment and Safety Considerations for Working with Engineered Nanoparticles addresses what acceptable levels of exposures to nanoparticles are and indentifies best practices to follow and control such exposures.  The field of nanotechnology health and safety is growing rapidly, due to the thousands of commercial and medical applications for engineered nanoparticles that are currently available or under development, and there is a strong need for knowledge and guidelines associated with the evaluation and control of engineered nanoparticle exposures.

Exposure Assessment and Safety Considerations for Working with Engineered Nanoparticles features:

            Methods to evaluate and control worker exposures to engineered Nanoparticles

            Guidance for concerned EHS professionals on acceptable levels of exposure to Nanoparticles

            Best practices to be followed by all researchers when working with engineered Nanoparticles

            Knowledge on toxicity of nanoparticles

The book includes a wide range of topics; from why we should be concerned about Nanoparticle exposure to the current knowledge on the toxicity of nanoparticles, and evaluation of exposure. Finally the authors evaluate case studies related to particle exposure.

1. Introduction

1.1 Why a Book on Nanotechnology Health and Safety?

1.2 Some Scenarios

1.3 Organization of the Material

1.4 Our Approach to Nanoparticle Health and Safety

2. What is a Nanoparticle?

2.1 Nanotechnology, Nanomaterials and Nanoparticles

2.2 Naturally–occurring Nanoparticles

2.3 Industrial Nanoparticles

2.4 Engineered Nanoparticles

2.5 Emerging Uses for Engineered Nanoparticles

2.6. Other Useful Definitions

2.7 Summary

3. Why are we Concerned? The Unique Properties ofNanoparticles

3.1. Surface–to–volume ratio

3.2 Particle size

3.3 Particle Concentration

3.4 Dose Metrics: Particle Number, Surface Area, Morphology andSurface Properties

3.5 Implications for the Occupational and Environmental HealthImpacts of Nanoparticles

3.6 Implications for Physical Risks

3.7 Summary

4. Routes of Exposure for Engineered Nanoparticles

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Engineered Nanoparticle Exposure through Inhalation

4.3 Engineered Nanoparticle Exposure through Dermal Contact

4.4 Engineered Nanoparticle Exposure through Ingestion

4.5 Translocation of Nanoparticles from the Lung

4.6 Summary

5. Current Knowledge on the Toxicity of Nanoparticles

5.1 Introduction

5.2 The Toxicity of Industrial Nanoparticles

5.3 Nanoparticle Toxicity General Concepts

5.4 Carbon Nanotubes

5.5 Fullerenes

5.6 Quantum Dots

5.7 Metal–based Nanoparticles

5.8 Summary

6. Sources of Exposure

6.1 Overview of Occupational Exposures

6.2 Occupational Exposures in Research Facilities

6.3 Occupational Exposures in Manufacturing Facilities

6.4 Exposure Potential for ENPs in Different Physical States

6.5 Environmental Exposures to Engineered Nanoparticles

7. Evaluation of Exposures to Engineered Nanoparticles

7.1 Current Knowledge Concerning Exposure to EngineeredNanoparticles

7.2 Exposure to Engineered Nanoparticles by Inhalation

7.3  Dermal Exposures to Engineered Nanoparticles

7.4 Evaluation of Exposures in Aquatic Environments

8. Exposure Characterization

8.1 Exposure Characterization Steps

8.2 Exposure Measurement Strategies

8.3 Data Analysis and Interpretation

8.4 Statistical Analysis of Data

8.5 Practical Aspects of Aerosol Sampling and MicroscopyTechniques

8.6 Practical Applications and Limitations

8.7 Typical Production Processes

8.8 Case Study: Manual Handling of Nanoparticles

8.9 Case Study: Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes

8.10 Case Study: Exposure from Twin Screw ExtrusionCompounding

9. Control of Occupational Exposures to EngineeredNanoparticles

9.1 Control of Airborne Exposures

9.2 Control of Dermal Exposures

9.3 Administrative Controls and Good Work Practices

9.4 Respiratory Protection

9.5 Case Study – comparison of the performance of various fumehoods

9.6 Case Study performance of non–traditional fumehoods

10.  Control of Environmental Exposures

10.1 Control of Air Emissions

10.2 Control of Water Emissions

10.3 Nanoparticles in Solid Waste

10.4 Control of Exposures throughout a Product s LifeCycle

10.5 Uncertainties and Needed Research

10.6 Case study – filtration control

11. The Regulatory Environment for EngineeredNanomaterials

11.1 Occupational Health Regulations

11.2 Environmental Regulations

11.3 Comparison of Nanotechnology Regulation under TSCA andREACH

11.4 Private Law

11.5 Conclusions

12. Future Directions in Engineered Nanoparticle Health andSafety

12.1 Where we are Today

12.2 Human Health Effects Studies

12.3 Exposure Assessment

12.4 Optimal Approaches to Control Exposures

12.5 The Future of Regulation

12.6 Conclusions

Michael Ellenbecker, Professor of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, has published widely on the measurement and control of airborne contaminants.  He is co–author of the Wiley textbook Ventilation for Control of the Work Environment, 2d edition.  He leads the health and safety efforts at CHN. 

Candace Tsai recently completed her doctorate in occupational and environmental hygiene and cleaner production at UMass Lowell.  Dr. Tsai also has Master s degrees in chemical engineering and business administration.  For her doctoral research, Dr. Tsai evaluated the potential for Nanoparticle exposure in all CHN labs and measured actual exposures in more than a dozen of them.  Three articles based on her doctoral work, which was completed in February 2008, have already been accepted for publication.