Title: Presentation 3: Are nanomaterials a worker health and safety risk?
1Presentation 3Are nanomaterials a worker health
and safety risk?
2Health effects identified so far
- Nanomaterials can penetrate further into the
human body if inhaled and even pass into the
bloodstream and travel to other organs - Some nanomaterials (multi-walled carbon nanotubes
- MWCNTs) have shown asbestos-like effects - Lack of data available on the hazards (human and
environmental) posed by nanomaterials - Yet, we can read across to nanomaterials from
our knowledge of effects of the same or similar
materials at bulk size - toxicologists have not
yet identified new health effects from
nanomaterials as seen for other hazardous
substances - Toxicity can depend upon size, shape, surface
charge, age, etc of the nanomaterials, so their
complexity means testing for all possible
variables would take many years and would be
expensive
References and images What Workers Need to Know
about Nanomaterial Toxicology https//nanohub.org/
groups/gng/training_materials
Date, location
3Precaution as a first response
- Given many unknowns about nanomaterial hazards,
preventing worker exposure is the best approach - Nanoparticles may enter the body through three
routes inhalation, absorption and ingestion
Reference Colvin, V.L., The Potential
Environmental Impact of Engineered
Nanomaterials, in Asmatulu, R. Toxicity of
Nanomaterials and Recent Developments in Lung
Disease http//www.intechopen.com/books/bronchiti
s/toxicity-of-nanomaterials-and-recent-development
s-in-lung-disease
Date, location
4Routes of exposure
- INHALATION
- Inhalation is the most important exposure route
because it is the most concentrated, and produces
the strongest effects - Inhaled airborne nanomaterials may deposit in
different parts of the lungs - Inhaled nanomaterials may travel to other organs
and lymph system via blood stream (also exposure
via the olfactory bulb/nerve)
- ABSORPTION
- Fewer studies done on absorption than on
inhalation - Studies show different results
- little to no penetration beyond surface skin
layers - Penetration of flexed, damaged or diseased skin
- Penetration of intact skin within 8-24 hours
- Eyes also an exposure route
- Skin studies based on short-term single
applications
- INGESTION
- May occur after inhalation exposure when mucus is
brought up the respiratory tract and swallowed - Poor work practice can result in hand-to-mouth
transfer (e.g. eating or smoking in the work
area) - Ingested nanoparticles do translocate to other
organs
Reference What Workers Need to Know about
Nanomaterial Toxicology https//nanohub.org/groups
/gng/training_materials
Date, location
5Concerns about exposure
- Effects from nanomaterials testing
- Cancers, including mesothelioma
- Rapid and persistent pulmonary fibrosis
- Cardiovascular dysfunction
- Transfer to different organs (e.g. the brain,
heart, liver, intestine, lymph system) via the
olfactory nerve into the brain, via the lungs,
via the skin - Affect cells their shape and structure, damage
cell membranes - Irritation responses (e.g. respiratory problems)
- DNA and liver damage
Reference What Workers Need to Know about
Nanomaterial Toxicology https//nanohub.org/groups
/gng/training_materials Images
http//science.howstuffworks.com/nanotechnology5.
htm General Safe Practices for Working with
Engineered Nanomaterials in Research Laboratories
(http//www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2012-147/pdfs/2012-
147.pdf)
Date, location
6Reactivity at nanoscale
- Nanomaterials have much larger surface areas than
the same mass of bulk materials so a greater
amount of the material can come into contact with
surrounding materials, increasing reactivity - E.g. A solid cube of a material 1 cm³ has 6cm² of
surface area about equal to one side of half a
stick of gum. The same 1cm³ cube filled with 1
nanometre-sized cubes (each with an area of 6
nanometres²) 6,000 square metres a bit larger
than a 4-lane Olympic sized swimming pool - Their higher reactivity levels make nanomaterials
attractive for introduction into products and
production processes (new functions, increased
energy efficiency) but this reactivity also
applies to biological processes (the body) and we
know that nanomaterials can travel further into
the body via inhalation
Reference and image http//www.nano.gov/nanotech-
101/special
Date, location
7Risks from presence of nanomaterials
- This table shows a summary of the risks to be
assessed under EU chemicals-related occupational
health and safety legislation, and some risk
factors related to hazardous chemicals - In red are the risk factors that need to be given
particular attention when doing a risk assessment
of the nanomaterial/s in the workplace
Risk Some risk factors
Risks due to inhalation of the agent Toxicity of the nanomaterial Physicochemical characteristics of the nanomaterial Environmental concentration Exposure time Particularly sensitive workers Inappropriate selection and/or use of RPE
Risks due to absorption through the skin Location and extent of the contact with the skin Toxicity of the nanomaterial via the skin Duration and frequency of contact Particularly sensitive workers Inappropriate selection and/or use of RPE
Risks due to contact with the skin or eyes Inappropriate selection and/or use of RPE Inappropriate work procedure Incorrect transfer procedure
Risks due to ingestion Toxicity of the nanomaterial Potential toxicity of the nanomaterial Incorrect personal hygiene habits Possibility of eating, drinking or smoking in the workplace Particularly sensitive workers
Risks of fire and/or explosion Physical state (ultrafine dust) Pressure/temperature Flammability/calorific value Airborne concentration Sources of ignition
Risks due to hazardous chemical reactions Chemical reactivity and instability of hazardous chemical agents Inadequate cooling systems Unreliable system for controlling key variables in the reaction (pressure, temperature and flow control)
Risks arising from installations which may have consequences on the health and safety of workers Corrosion of materials and installations Deficient or non-existent facilities for controlling leaks and spills (retaining trays, protection against mechanical impacts) Deficient or non-existent preventive maintenance
Reference and image DG Employment, 2014,
Guidance on the protection of the health and
safety of workers from the potential risks
related to nanomaterials at work Guidance for
employers and health and safety practitioners
Date, location
8Potential worker exposure across product lifecycle
- Worker exposure can occur across the lifecycle of
a nano-enabled product from nanomaterial
production, to manufacturing of a nano-enabled
product, to the products use (e.g. machining of
the product), and in its end-of-life management
(recycling or incineration/disposal) - Of all these phases, nanomaterial production
workplaces are the most assessed for worker
exposure
Image http//www.nanotortlaw.com/2013/08/12/nanop
article-waste-treatment-concerns-evaluated-in-a-ne
w-study/
Date, location