Health and safety implications of occupational exposure to engineered nanomaterials

Abstract

The rapid growth and commercialization of nanotechnology are currently outpacing health and safety recommendations for engineered nanomaterials. As the production and use of nanomaterials increase, so does the possibility that there will be exposure of workers and the public to these materials. This review provides a summary of current research and regulatory efforts related to occupational exposure and medical surveillance for the nanotechnology workforce, focusing on the most prevalent industrial nanomaterials currently moving through the research, development, and manufacturing pipelines. Their applications and usage precedes a discussion of occupational health and safety efforts, including exposure assessment, occupational health surveillance, and regulatory considerations for these nanomaterials.

Effect of Nanoparticles Exposure on Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FENO) in Workers Exposed to Nanomaterials

“…The market for NM is increasing rapidly and is predicted to have a $3.1 trillion impact on the global economy by 2015 [1]. Although nanotechnology is applied to many different domains, engineered NM produced and handled in industrial and academic settings present new challenges in managing potential health risks to workers, consumers, and the environment [2,3]. Until now, however, most of the documents about the health hazards of nanoparticles (NP) have been provided mainly from animal or in vitro studies.…”

“…Previous studies also showed that NP mainly deposit (75%–80%) in the alveolar region where particles interfere with or within cells (like epithelial cells and macrophages) as well as with the mucus and clearance of NP from the lung, is slower than that of fine particles (PM ≤ 2.5) [2,7–9]. Animal studies mentioned that the greater surface area per mass of NP is more active biologically than larger-sized particles with the same chemistry, and that particle surface area and number appear to be better predictors for NP-induced inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in the lung [9–11].…”

Nano-objects emitted during maintenance of common particle generators: direct chemical characterization with aerosol mass spectrometry and implications for risk assessments

“…For nanoparticles the dose of more biological relevant properties, like reactivity and particle surface area, can be high even when the concentration in terms of mass is relatively low (Abbott and Maynard 2010;Rivera Gil et al 2010). With a fast growing industry, producing and developing nanomaterials, the research covering possible exposures and effects of MNOs should with care follow the development of novel materials containing nanoparticles (Seaton and Donaldson 2005;Stebounova et al 2012). …”

Carbon nanoparticle induced cytotoxicity in human mesenchymal stem cells through upregulation of TNF3, NFKBIA and BCL2L1 genes

“…As a result, the occupational and public exposure to nanomaterials is increasing gradually year by year. Moreover, the large-scale production, use and disposal of nanomaterials can be hazardous for humans and other biological systems (Stebounova et al, 2012). Hence, there is a need to identify the harmful impacts of nanomaterials on biological systems.…”