Development of a French Epidemiological Surveillance System of Workers Producing or Handling Engineered Nanomaterials in the Workplace

Abstract

The protocol is about to be submitted to the French Government for approval and funding.

Overview of Risk Management for Engineered Nanomaterials

“…Monitoring of the workforce is critical to demonstrating that nanotechnology is being developed responsibly. A pioneering effort in this regard is the national surveillance program in France which initially will monitor workers exposed to carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide [40]. Similar efforts are needed in other countries.…”

French registry of workers handling engineered nanomaterials as an instrument of integrated system for surveillance and research

“…In site investigations and technical visits of eight companies which had agreed to participate allowed to collect critical information such as the number of workers likely to be exposed to nanomaterials, conditions of exposure, medical follow-up, and collaboration issues. The main conclusions outlined by this exploratory study were as followed: 1-relatively good acceptance of cooperation in public research laboratories and R&D facilities, but some disagreement issues on the ENM definition in some ENM producing facilities; 2-variable likelihood of exposure (low on R&D facilities but probable on facilities producing precipitated silica, carbon black, TiO 2 ); 3-generally small number of workers likely to be exposed on each site (from 15 to 120 on private facilities and 250 on the public R&D laboratories), 4-absence of a specific medical follow-up for nanoworkers other than annual clinical exams including in some cases lung function tests, blood analysis (blood cell counts, creatinine, transaminase, C Reactive Protein), or chest radiography [4]. According to these conclusions, an operational plan of the French integrated surveillance system should account for possible cooperation and comprehension issues by supplying all necessary tools and conditions before its actual implementation on the national level.…”

“…An initial surveillance plan was proposed within a multidisciplinary working group held by the French Institute for Public Health Research (Institut de recherché en santé publique, IReSP) on the basis of literature review and discussions with national and international ENM and OSH experts [4]. An exploratory study was then conducted with the aim of assessing the feasibility of an epidemiological surveillance system of workers occupationally exposed to ENM in France.…”

Advancement in Quebec Research on the Prevention of Risks Related to Occupational Exposure to Nanomaterials

“…Furthermore, even though toxicological studies on animals and epidemiological studies on the consequences of exposure to the ultrafine particles resulting from some industrial processes or to atmospheric pollution indicate potential effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, the present lack of knowledge on the human health effects of exposure to nanoparticles represents a significant challenge when establishing monitoring programs. Nevertheless, French researchers propose monitoring several respiratory system disorders such as pulmonary inflammation and the incidence or exacerbation of chronic obstructive diseases, and cardiovascular system disorders such as myocardial infarction, strokes, thrombosis and arrhythmia (Boutou-Kempf et al, 2011).…”

“…In France, an epidemiological investigation with the implementation of an exposure register is planned, as well as a medium-and long-term monitoring program including a prospective cohort study and cross-sectional studies on workers producing or using nanomaterials in their work (Boutou-Kempf et al, 2011). Other groups of researchers in Italy and the United States are focusing their attention on evaluating the health risks associated with specific exposures, for example TiO 2 nanoparticles (Iavicoli et al, 2011) and CNT (Schubauer-Berigan, Dahm and Yencken, 2011).…”