Control Banding Tools for Engineered Nanoparticles: What the Practitioner Needs to Know

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Nanomaterial Safety
• Risk Assessment

Background:

• Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) require exposure control strategies in the absence of specific occupational exposure limits (OELs).
• Control banding (CB) is a recommended approach, but ENM-specific CB tools need systematic evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify data inputs for CB tools.
• To compare guidance from eight ENM-specific CB tools.
• To evaluate CB tool recommendations for six different ENMs.

Main Methods:

• Compared data inputs and guidance from eight CB tools.
• Evaluated tools using six ENMs: silica, titanium dioxide, silver, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and cellulose.
• Assumed a constant handling/use scenario for evaluation.

Main Results:

• Several CB tools recommended the highest exposure control level, primarily due to hazard banding.
• Dustiness influenced exposure banding in many tools, but classification guidance was often lacking.
• Tools recommending diverse controls based on hazard and dustiness showed better data utilization, though validation is needed.

Conclusions:

• Local exhaust ventilation was universally recommended as a minimum control for ENMs.
• CB tools generally suggested control levels comparable to or more stringent than proposed ENM OELs.
• CB tools provide prudent exposure control guidance, especially when data are limited.