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A strategy for assessing workplace exposures to nanomaterials
Gurumurthy Ramachandran1, Michele Ostraat, Douglas E Evans
1Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. ramac002@umn.edu
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
|October 26, 2011
Summary
This guide offers a flexible strategy for assessing nanomaterial exposure, ensuring worker safety with minimal resources. It helps identify high-risk tasks for effective exposure management in industrial settings.
Area of Science:
- Industrial Hygiene
- Occupational Safety
- Nanomaterial Risk Management
Background:
- Nanomaterials present unique exposure challenges in the workplace.
- Existing exposure assessment frameworks require adaptation for nanomaterials.
- Effective management of engineered nanomaterial risks is crucial for worker health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a tailorable exposure assessment strategy for nanomaterials.
- To enable effective and efficient exposure management for workers handling nanomaterials.
- To provide a practical guide for industrial hygienists.
Main Methods:
- Adaptation of a general framework from AIHA® for nanomaterials.
- Guidance on workplace characterization and exposure potential assessment.
- Methods for background aerosol accounting, SEG construction, and instrumentation selection.
Main Results:
- A strategy is described that identifies jobs with unacceptable exposures.
- The strategy requires only a modest level of resources.
- It ensures risks to workers handling nanomaterials are managed properly.
Conclusions:
- The proposed strategy provides a practical approach to managing engineered nanomaterial risks.
- It facilitates informed decision-making based on collected and interpreted information.
- This guide supports industrial hygienists in ensuring worker safety.
