Nanoparticles And Occupational Health

This volume, a reprint from a special issue of the Journal of Nanoparticle Research, draws on work presented at The Second International Symposium on Nanotechnology and Occupational Health, held in Minnesota in 2005. It presents an interdisciplinary approach to nanotechnology and occupational health and offers an overview of recent developments toward assessment and management of hazards and risks associated with engineered nanomaterials.

This volume, a reprint from a special issue of the Journal of Nanoparticle Research, draws on work presented at The Second International Symposium on Nanotechnology and Occupational Health, held in Minnesota in 2005. It presents an interdisciplinary approach to nanotechnology and occupational health and offers an overview of recent developments toward assessment and management of hazards and risks associated with engineered nanomaterials.

Rapid growth in the nanoparticle industry is anticipated in the Nordic countries owing to highly focused national research and investment initiatives. Knowledge on consequences for occupational exposures to engineered nanoparticles and appropriate technical control levels is still limited. This report explores existing knowledge on exposure risks and technical control approaches. The report concludes that data are too limited to allow general conclusions to be drawn regarding risks of exposure to engineered nanoparticles. Engineering techniques for controlling nanoparticle exposure can build on the current knowledge and approaches to control exposure to e.g. welding fume and carbon black. There is a need for improving the quality of information provided in Material Safety Data Sheets.

Nanotechnology safety is the practice of handling engineered nanomaterials in production and manufacturing. Good practice consists of understanding and interpreting Material Safety Data Sheets, behaving safely when working with yet unknown nanomaterials, understanding health effects, and proactively creating safety measures against potential hazards. This book addresses nanotechnology risk management.

Nanotechnology safety is the practice of handling engineered nanomaterials in production and manufacturing. Good practice consists of understanding and interpreting Material Safety Data Sheets, behaving safely when working with yet unknown nanomaterials, understanding health effects, and proactively creating safety measures against potential hazards. This book introduces nanotechnology risk management to readers from academia and industry.

What are the challenges the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and related federal agencies face when allocating limited resources so that worker health and safety go hand in hand with innovation and technical progress? This was the central issue addressed at a workshop on nanotechnology and occupational safety and health hosted by the RAND Corporation on October 17, 2005. The workshop focused on policy and planning issues (as opposed to scientific issues) that are key to understanding the options available to NIOSH in formulating and implementing its strategic objectives to protect the safety and health of workers exposed to nanoscale materials. This document of the conference proceedings draws on discussions during the workshop and places the discussions within a policy framework for further consideration by NIOSH.

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is an important focus of governments and organizations throughout the world because there are over 2.78 million fatal and 374 million nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses experienced by employees every year. Addressing these requires paying attention to the physical organizational, cultural, and social contexts amidst which work is undertaken. A multidisciplinary approach is also necessary in finding effective solutions. Interestingly, countries and regions address different aspects of OHS depending on what OHS hazards and risks are important to them. This book, based on research from Australia, Belgium, Ghana, Malaysia, Turkey, and Slovakia, examines how a range of OHS hazards are addressed in these contexts. We believe that this is an important first step in addressing an age-old OHS problem through a multiregional collaboration.

Addresses health and safety issues associated with workplace Nanoparticle exposures • Describes methods to evaluate and control worker exposures to engineered nanoparticles • Provides guidance for concerned EHS professionals on acceptable levels of exposure to nanoparticles • Includes documentation on best practices to be followed by all researchers when working with engineered nanoparticles • Describes current knowledge on toxicity of nanoparticles • Includes coverage on Routes of Exposure for Engineered Nanoparticles