| Summary: |
This review of occupational exposure to nanoparticles is part of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)'s Research Report Series. This report analyzes nanoparticle production processes in four ways: A conventional scientific review, a web-based review, discussion with key individuals prominent in nanoparticle development or health assessment, and the experience and interpretation of the project team. The team’s review included potential routes for human exposure, level of exposure, means of control measures, trends, and the impact of research use transforming into industrial use. While all four main groups of nanoparticle production processes (gas-phase, vapor deposition, colloidal, and attrition) may potentially cause exposure by inhalation, dermal, or ingestion routes when nanoparticles are agglomerated, only gas-phase processes can cause exposure to primary nanoparticles by inhalation during the synthesis stage. The most appropriate metric for inhalation exposure is particle surface area, but there are no currently available effective methods for workplace assessments of particle surface area. Approximately 2000 people in the UK may be exposed to nanoparticles in some form at present, and this number may double in five years. Key knowledge gaps that must be filled include the lack of a well-defined nomenclature, the lack of convenient methods for measuring workplace exposure, insufficient knowledge regarding exposure, how to evaluate control approaches, and insufficient knowledge to conduct risk assessment. |