US EPA

155619 

Journal Article 

Health and Safety Practices in the Nanomaterials Workplace: Results from an International Survey 

Conti, JA; Killpack, K; Gerritzen, G; Huang, L; Mircheva, M; Delmas, M; Harthorn, BH; Appelbaum, RP; Holden, PA 

2008 

1 

Environmental Science & Technology
ISSN: 0013-936X
EISSN: 1520-5851 

42 

3155-3162 

This article reports the findings of an international survey of
nanomaterialsfirmsandlaboratoriesregardingtheirenvironmental
health and safety (EHS) programs, engineering controls,
personal protective equipment (PPE), exposure monitoring,
waste disposal, product stewardship, and risk beliefs. While
many participants reported not believing that nanomaterials pose
special risks, nanospecific EHS programs were still widely
reported. Most nanospecific EHS programs appeared to build
from general EHS programs but included nanospecific
workplace engineering controls and recommendations for
clothing, gloves, eye protection, and respirators. Organizations
with nanospecific EHS programs also reported providing
product (safe use) guidance to consumers. However, workplace
monitoring and nanospecific waste disposal were uneven
and were only associated with the subset of organizations
believing in special risks. A majority of organizations expressed
a need for more toxicological information and EHS guidance.
Overall, this study suggests that nanomaterials firms and
laboratories are already attentive to nanospecific EHS and
product stewardship issues. However, improved risk communication
is needed to further the implementation of related
programs. Organizations that are wholly inattentive to EHS
would likely engage in nanospecific EHS upon implementing a
staffed, general EHS program.