Manufactured nano-objects: an occupational survey in five industries in France

Manufactured nano-objects (MNO) are being increasingly used in industry, and, given their particular properties, it is therefore necessary to assess the risks linked to their production and use in industrial settings. We describe a survey conducted in France, in five industries concerned with the production of inks, paints, plastics, and the production of raw nano materials. In 2009, a questionnaire was posted to each of the 993 French establishments in these industries. Of the 464 (47%) establishments that responded, 87 indicated that they were producing or using MNO at that time. The results reveal that in the five industries, MNO are generally produced in large quantities by a small number of establishments but are used in smaller amounts by a greater number of establishments. The population of workers exposed to MNO in user establishments is estimated to be ~3000 in the industries surveyed. The protective measures implemented in establishments producing or using MNO differ according to the scale of production and/or use and are sometimes inadequate given the nature of the potential risks. It is therefore necessary to inform users of the presence of MNO in raw materials (through labelling and material safety data sheets MSDS) and to make recommendations as to the collective protective measures that should be implemented.