Milken Institute School of Public Health Poster Presentations (Marvin Center & Video)

Evaluation of Exposure Assessment Methods Used to Quantify Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanomaterials: A Systematic Review

Poster Number

52

Document Type

Poster

Status

Graduate Student - Masters

Abstract Category

Environmental and Occupational Health

Keywords

occupational health; occupational exposure; industrial hygiene; nano materials; exposure assessment

Publication Date

4-2017

Abstract

Title: Evaluation of Exposure Assessment Methods Used to Quantify Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanomaterials: A Systematic Review

Authors: Matthew Wright, Melissa Perry

Current affiliation of authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health

Objective: This systematic review sought to examine exposure assessment methods used to quantify occupational exposure to carbon nanomaterials (CNM).

Background: As Engineered Nanomaterials (ENM) use in research, manufacturing, and production increases, occupational exposure to ENM particulate matter (PM) is also increasing.. Currently ENMs are being used in industries such as medicine, electronics, information technology, energy, homeland security, food safety, and environmental science among others. Many traditional occupational exposure assessment methods and sampling equipment may not be well suited to assess emissions and exposures on the nano scale. There is also concern that ENM emissions may not be well controlled via traditional engineering controls and personal protective equipment (PPE). To continue to grow the field while protecting worker health, it is imperative to develop appropriate exposure assessment approaches and methodologies that will allow the quantification of ENM exposure.

Methods: Compendex, Inspec, Inspec Archive, GEOBASE, Knovel, and reference lists of included studies were searched. To be included, studies were required to be published in English, empirical in design, and focus on exposure assessment methods specific to CNMs.

Results to Date: 5 studies were identified using the before mentioned search strategy. The studies found that mobile aerosol direct reading alone might not characterize exposures well enough to be relied upon without the use of other equipment. Multiple exposure assessment techniques were used in conjunction to quantitatively assess CNM exposure. Multiwalled carbon nanomaterials (MWCNM) surface exposures were identified and quantified using assessment tools that are low cost and readily available.

Conclusions: With the proper techniques and equipment, occupational exposure to CNMs can be assessed and methods for control can be developed. There should be an effort to quantitatively and systematically assesses worker exposure to CNMs.

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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Open Access

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Poster to be presented at GW Annual Research Days 2017.

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Evaluation of Exposure Assessment Methods Used to Quantify Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanomaterials: A Systematic Review

Title: Evaluation of Exposure Assessment Methods Used to Quantify Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanomaterials: A Systematic Review

Authors: Matthew Wright, Melissa Perry

Current affiliation of authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health

Objective: This systematic review sought to examine exposure assessment methods used to quantify occupational exposure to carbon nanomaterials (CNM).

Background: As Engineered Nanomaterials (ENM) use in research, manufacturing, and production increases, occupational exposure to ENM particulate matter (PM) is also increasing.. Currently ENMs are being used in industries such as medicine, electronics, information technology, energy, homeland security, food safety, and environmental science among others. Many traditional occupational exposure assessment methods and sampling equipment may not be well suited to assess emissions and exposures on the nano scale. There is also concern that ENM emissions may not be well controlled via traditional engineering controls and personal protective equipment (PPE). To continue to grow the field while protecting worker health, it is imperative to develop appropriate exposure assessment approaches and methodologies that will allow the quantification of ENM exposure.

Methods: Compendex, Inspec, Inspec Archive, GEOBASE, Knovel, and reference lists of included studies were searched. To be included, studies were required to be published in English, empirical in design, and focus on exposure assessment methods specific to CNMs.

Results to Date: 5 studies were identified using the before mentioned search strategy. The studies found that mobile aerosol direct reading alone might not characterize exposures well enough to be relied upon without the use of other equipment. Multiple exposure assessment techniques were used in conjunction to quantitatively assess CNM exposure. Multiwalled carbon nanomaterials (MWCNM) surface exposures were identified and quantified using assessment tools that are low cost and readily available.

Conclusions: With the proper techniques and equipment, occupational exposure to CNMs can be assessed and methods for control can be developed. There should be an effort to quantitatively and systematically assesses worker exposure to CNMs.