Nanomaterial risk assessment and management experiences related to worker health under the Toxic Substances Control...

This paper examined the data and experiences gathered through the review of over 100 nanomaterial submissions for industrial nanomaterials, and what these data indicate for worker health at industrial facilities where nanomaterials are synthesized, and/or incorporated into final products for the marketplace.

The types of nanomaterials, their uses, potential health effects and worker exposures, methods for examining worker and general population exposures, and risk management actions taken under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) prior to their manufacture are summarized.

There is a diversity of nanomaterials are currently entering the marketplace, but there are certain materials reviewed under TSCA such as carbon-based nanomaterials and metal oxides that are more likely to be commercialized than others. There are health and monitoring data that have been received by EPA that are useful in determining potential risks, and risk management approaches such as limiting uses of the nanomaterials and embedding nanomaterials in polymer matrices that reduce concerns for worker exposures. Certain EPA data gathering tools such as those used to collect nanomaterial use and worker exposure information, and screening level approaches for estimating worker exposures are useful and could be enhanced to better estimate worker risks.

The data and experiences with nanomaterials under TSCA should prove useful when considering worker exposure registries, medical surveillance and epidemiological research.