Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs”

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs”

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” “Molecular nanotechnology is the capability to build or modify any material object by adding or removing individual atoms under complete external control” (The Future of Molecular Nanotechnology; Mike Deering)

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” NIOSH Filling a Critical Leadership Role

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Contributions to Nanotechnology Safety & Health - NIOSH is at the forefront of U.S. research to understand the occupational health implications of nanomaterials. - NIOSH offers interim guidelines for working with nanomaterials, consistent with the best scientific knowledge. - NIOSH provides a global online Library on nanomaterials as a working resource for researchers and others. - NIOSH publishes new findings and recommendations as its research advances.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Major Programs & Initiatives - Nanotechnology and Workplace Safety & Health Topic Page - Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology - Strategic Plan for NIOSH Nanotechnology Research - Top Ten Critical Nanotechnology EHS Topic Areas - Nanoparticle Information Library - Progress Toward Safe Nanotechnology in the Workplace - NIOSH Strategic Partnerships

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health NIOSH is participating in an international effort of research groups, government agencies and industries seeking to understand the health impact of nanotechnology and how to control potential risks. NIOSH is pursuing a number of initiatives, including: • Studying the mechanisms leading to nanoparticle toxicity. • Developing and testing methods to characterize and monitor the health related properties of nanomaterials. • Investigating nanoparticle exposure and ways of controlling exposure in the workplace.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” • National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health • Major Programs & Initiatives • - Nanotechnology and Workplace Safety & Health Topic Page • - Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology • - Strategic Plan for NIOSH Nanotechnology Research • - Top Ten Critical Nanotechnology EHS Topic Areas • - Nanoparticle Information Library • - Progress Toward Safe Nanotechnology in the Workplace • - NIOSH Strategic Partnerships

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health This document reviews what is currently known about nanoparticle toxicity and control, but it is only a starting point. The document serves as a request from NIOSH to occupational safety and health practitioners, researchers, product innovators and manufacturers, employers, workers, interest group members, and the general public to exchange information that will ensure that no worker suffers material impairment of safety or health as nanotechnology develops. Opportunities to provide feedback and information are available throughout this document.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Strategic Plan for NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Filling the Knowledge Gaps September 28, 2005 Nanotechnology Research Program National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The strategic plan provides a guide for building a research effort capable of responding to the challenges of this emerging technology. It represents a timely research agenda and will evolve as new information becomes available and a more thorough scientific understanding about nanotechnology develops. The strategic plan describes a multi-dimensional research agenda. It addresses what NIOSH is doing internally and externally to lead the occupational safety and health community collaboratively in nanotechnology research.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health 1) Understand and prevent work-related injuries and illnesses possibly caused by nanoparticles / nanomaterials: - To achieve this goal, there is a need to determine the toxicity of nanomaterials, identify possible health effects from the early uses of these materials, and monitor the on-going health of individuals working with nanomaterials.- Research will be conducted to develop and validate methods of exposure assessment.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health 2) Conduct research to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses by applying nanotechnology products:- To achieve this goal, the properties unique to nanotechnology will be used to investigate and develop nanotechnology-based alternative solutions and study the possible health effects of nanomaterials.- Research will be conducted using nanomaterials, sensing and communicating nanodevices, and nanomachinery.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health 3) Promote healthy workplaces through interventions, recommendations, and capacity building:- To achieve this goal, there is a need to develop and evaluate engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and guidance on safe handling of nanomaterials. There is also a need to identify and improve safety issues in the workplace.- Once adequate guidance is developed, NIOSH will disseminate the information to a broad audience and efforts will be made to incorporate it into training programs and existing safety and health systems.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health 4) Enhance global workplace safety and health through international collaboration on nanotechnology:- To achieve this goal, there is a need to grow existing national and international partnerships and establish new partnerships to identify research needs, approaches, and results to ensure the safety and health of workers.- Solid partnerships will allow for the development and dissemination of information and education to workers and occupational health and safety professionals.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health CRITICAL OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES ARISING FROM NANOTECHNOLOGY NIOSH has identified 10 critical topic areas to guide in addressing knowledge gaps, developing strategies, and providing recommendations. Each topic provides a brief description of the research that NIOSH is conducting in the area of nanotechnology and the applications and implications of nanomaterials in the workplace.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” • National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health • Toxicity and Internal Dose • - Investigating and determining the physical and chemical properties (ex: size, shape, solubility) that influence the potential toxicity of nanoparticles • - Evaluating short and long-term effects that nanomaterials may have in organ systems and tissues (ex: lungs) • - Determining biological mechanisms for potential toxic effects • - Creating and integrating models to assist in assessing possible hazards • - Determining if a measure other than mass is more appropriate for determining toxicity

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” • National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health • Risk Assessment • - Determining the likelihood that current exposure-response data (human or animal) could be used in identifying and assessing potential occupational hazards • - Developing a framework for evaluating potential hazards and predicting potential occupational risk of exposure to nanomaterials.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Epidemiology & Surveillance - Evaluating existing epidemiological workplace studies where nanomaterials are used - Identifying knowledge gaps where epidemiological studies could advance understanding of nanomaterials and evaluating the likelihood of conducting new studies - Integrating nanotechnology health and safety issues into existing hazard surveillance methods and determining whether additional screening methods are needed - Using existing systems to share data and information about nanotechnology

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Engineering Controls and PPE - Evaluating the effectiveness of engineering controls in reducing occupational exposures to nanoaerosols and developing new controls where needed - Evaluating and improving current personal protective equipment - Developing recommendations to prevent or limit occupational exposures (ex: respirator fit testing) - Evaluating suitability of control banding techniques where additional information is needed; and evaluating the effectiveness of alternative materials

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Measurement Methods - Evaluating methods of measuring mass of respirable particles in the air and determining if this measurement can be used to measure nanomaterials - Developing and field-testing practical methods to accurately measure airborne nanomaterials in the workplace - Developing testing and evaluation systems to compare and validate sampling instruments

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” • National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health • Exposure Assessment • - Determining key factors that influence the production, dispersion, accumulation, and re-entry of nanomaterials into the workplace • - Assessing possible exposure when nanomaterials are inhaled or settle on the skin • - Determining how possible exposures differ by work process • - Determining what happens to nanomaterials once they enter the body

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Fire and Explosion Safety - Identifying physical and chemical properties that contribute to dustiness, combustibility, flammability, and conductivity of nanomaterials. - Recommending alternative work practices to eliminate or reduce workplace exposures to nanoparticles.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Recommendations & Guidance - Using the best available science to make interim recommendations for workplace safety and health practices during the production and use of nanomaterials - Evaluating and updating occupational exposure limits for mass-based airborne particles to ensure good continuing precautionary practices

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Communication & Education - Establishing partnerships to allow for identification and sharing of research needs, approaches, and results - Developing and disseminating training and educational materials to workers and health and safety professionals

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Applications - Identifying uses of nanotechnology for application in occupational safety and health - Evaluating and disseminating effective applications to workers and occupational safety and health professionals

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Nanoparticle Information Library The web-based Nanoparticle Information Library (NIL) helps occupational health professionals, industrial users, worker groups, and researchers organize and share information on nanomaterials, including their health and safety-associated properties.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Nanoparticle Information Library The information that NIOSH has incorporated into the searchable online database includes: - Nanomaterial composition - Method of production - Particle size, surface area, and morphology (included scanning, transmission, or other electron micrographic images) - Demonstrated or intended applications of the nanomaterial - Availability for research or commercial applications - Associated or relevant publications - Points of contact for additional details or partnering

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support”

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support” National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health This document is a report of the progress of the NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC) since its inception in 2004 through 2006. Using only internally redirected resources, the NTRC has begun to make contributions to all the steps in the continuum from hazard identification to risk management.

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs” Reddwall Solutions “Delivering Systems & Support”

Nanotechnology: Occupational Safety & Health “Reviewing the State of Affairs”