Page:Current Strategies for Engineering Controls in Nanomaterial Production and Downstream Handling Processes.pdf/16

 CHAPTER 1

The number of commercial applications of nanomaterials is growing at a tremendous rate. As this rapid growth continues, it is essential that producers and users of nanomaterials ensure a safe and healthy work environment for employees who may be exposed to these materials. Unfortunately, because nanotechnology is so new, we do not know or fully understand how occupational exposures to these agents may affect the health and safety of workers or even what levels of exposure may be acceptable. Given our current knowledge in this field, it is important to take precautions to minimize exposures and protect safety and health.

This document discusses approaches and strategies to protect workers from potentially harmful exposures during nanomaterial manufacturing, use, and handling processes. Its purpose is to provide the best available current knowledge of how workers may be exposed and provide guidance on exposure control and evaluation. It is intended to be used as a reference by plant managers and owners who are responsible for making decisions regarding capital allocations, as well as health and safety professionals, engineers, and industrial hygienists who are specifically charged with protecting worker health in this new and growing field. Because little has been published on exposure controls in the production and use of nanomaterials, this document focuses on applications that have relevance to the field of nanotechnology and on engineering control technologies currently used, and known to be effective, in other industries. This document also addresses other approaches to worker protection, such as the use of administrative controls and personal protective equipment.

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter at the atomic scale to create materials, devices, or systems with new properties and/or functions. Around the world, the introduction of nanotechnology promises great societal benefits across many economic sectors: energy, healthcare, industry, communications, agriculture, consumer products, and others [Sellers et al. 2009].

Some nanoparticles are natural, as in sea salt or pine tree pollen, or are incidentally produced, as in volcanic explosions or diesel engine emissions. The focus of this document is engineered nanomaterials, those materials deliberately engineered and manufactured to have certain properties and have at least one primary dimension of less than 100 nanometers (nm). Nanomaterials have properties different from those of their bulk components. For example, many of these materials have increased strength/weight ratios, enhanced conductivities, and improved optical or magnetic properties. These new properties make nanomaterial development so exciting and are the reason they hold the promise of great economic potential.

Nanomaterials are often classified by their physicochemical characteristics or structure. The four classes of materials of which nanoparticles are typically composed include elemental carbon, carbon compounds, metals or metal oxides, and ceramics. The nanometer form of metals, such as gold, and metal oxides, such as titanium dioxide, are the most common