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Workplace exposure to nanoparticles and the application of provisional nanoreference values in times of uncertain risks

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Abstract

Nano reference values (NRVs) for occupational use of nanomaterials were tested as provisional substitute for Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs). NRVs can be used as provisional limit values until Health-Based OELs or derived no-effect levels (DNEL) become available. NRVs were defined for 8 h periods (time weighted average) and for short-term exposure periods (15 min-time weighted average). To assess the usefulness of these NRVs, airborne number concentrations of nanoparticles (NPs) in the workplace environment were measured during paint manufacturing, electroplating, light equipment manufacturing, non-reflective glass production, production of pigment concentrates and car refinishing. Activities monitored were handling of solid engineered NPs (ENP), abrasion, spraying and heating during occupational use of nanomaterials (containing ENPs) and machining nanosurfaces. The measured concentrations are often presumed to contain ENPs as well as process-generated NPs (PGNP). The PGNP are found to be a significant source for potential exposure and cannot be ignored in risk assessment. Levels of NPs identified in workplace air were up to several millions of nanoparticles/cm3. Conventional components in paint manufacturing like CaCO3 and talc may contain a substantial amount of nanosized particulates giving rise to airborne nanoparticle concentrations. It is argued that risk assessments carried out for e.g. paint manufacturing processes using conventional non-nano components should take into account potential nanoparticle emissions as well. The concentrations measured were compared with particle-based NRVs and with mass-based values that have also been proposed for workers protection. It is concluded that NRVs can be used for risk management for handling or processing of nanomaterials at workplaces provided that the scope of NRVs is not limited to ENPs only, but extended to the exposure to process-generated NPs as well.

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Notes

  1. The Chemical Agents Directive (CAD), are Council Directives on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (98/24/EC), and on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens and mutagens at work (2004/37/EC).

  2. CMAR Carcinogenic, mutagenic, asthmagenic, reproduction toxic.

  3. Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment).

  4. By soft regulation we understand sustainable rules of conduct which in principle have no legally binding force, but which nevertheless have effects in regulatory practice to achieve certain policy goals. Hard regulation refers to rules of conduct that are based on legal authority. Soft regulation includes standards, codes of conduct, and benchmarks etc. It can be established by private and public organizations.

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Acknowledgments

The study was carried out within the frame of pilot project ‘Nano Reference Values’, commissioned by the Dutch social partners FNV, CNV and VNO/NCW with a grant from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Further elaboration of the results was made possible by a grant of the UvA Holding BV. The authors like to thank the companies that gave access to their workplaces (electroplating company, paint, glass, machine and lightning manufacturers and the vehicle-refinishing shop) for their participation openness about details of their processes. The authors also like to thank the Expert panel on Nano Reference Values for their valuable discussions on the NRV. The authors like to thank Jan Uitzinger of IVAM for help with the statistical analysis and creative thinking in presentation of the data. The comments of anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IVAM UvA BV, Plantage Muidergracht 14, 1018TV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Pieter van Broekhuizen, Fleur van Broekhuizen & Ralf Cornelissen

  2. Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Lucas Reijnders

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  1. Pieter van Broekhuizen
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  2. Fleur van Broekhuizen
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  3. Ralf Cornelissen
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Correspondence to Pieter van Broekhuizen.

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van Broekhuizen, P., van Broekhuizen, F., Cornelissen, R. et al. Workplace exposure to nanoparticles and the application of provisional nanoreference values in times of uncertain risks. J Nanopart Res 14, 770 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-0770-3

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