Nanomaterials and Industrial Hygiene featured in The Synergist

  • Home/
  • Nanotechnology/
  • Nanomaterials and Industrial Hygiene featured in <i>The Synergist</i>

Nanomaterials and Industrial Hygiene featured in The Synergist

Post by:
  • 4:14PM Nov 22, 2013
  • Comments off

Do you understand how engineered nanomaterial properties differ during production, processing, and disposal? How about the evaluation of potential risks associated with nanoparticle fabrication, handling, machining, or containerizing?

When it comes to nanomaterials, it’s hard to see all the risks that workers encounter, literally and hypothetically. A recent article co-authored by Keith Rickabaugh of RJ Lee Group, however, brings hazard identification, exposure assessments, and sampling approaches for engineered nanomaterials into focus. Rickabaugh, et. al.’s article “Industrial Hygiene Practices for Assessing Nanomaterials Exposures” was November’s feature piece in the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s (AIHA) magazine, The Synergist. The article provides guidance for developing a safety program around handling of engineered nanoparticles and options for sampling tools to quantify potential exposures. The online edition, viewable here, also contains two hypothetical case studies and a checklist for engineered nanomaterial assessment and risk management.

With new nano-containing products being developed every day, worker safety continues to be an area in need of further research and development. To learn more about where we are and where we’re headed, check out “Industrial Hygiene Practices for Assessing Nanomaterials Exposures” in November’s edition of The Synergist.

Scanning TEM images of titanium dioxide agglomerations with various primary particles sizes and morphologies.
High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are recommended for evaluating the degree of agglomeration, size, morphology, and matrix associations of engineered nanomaterials. Pictured here is a scanning TEM image of titanium dioxide agglomerations with various primary particle sizes and morphologies.