title: Understanding workplace processes and factors that influence exposures to engineered nanomaterials.
abstract: There is a critical need to understand the factors that influence engineered nanomaterial (ENM) exposures in the workplace. Such an understanding would aid in: identifying and prioritizing control measures; targeting future exposure measurements; and predicting worker exposures for work scenarios. This information could also be used in epidemiological studies. We propose a multitiered model in which information on exposure factors can be obtained at the macrolevel (examining differences in exposures between different ENM sectors or product types); the midlevel (examining differences in exposures between workplaces within the same ENM sector or product type); and the microlevel (examining differences in exposure between tasks or between ENM types during the same task). Further, within the microlevel, potential exposure factors are defined by a source-receptor model. We recommend that auxiliary data be collected systematically, along with exposure measurements, to enable analysis of exposure factors as well as the pooling of data across studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell 01854, USA. Susan_Woskie@uml.edu
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Woskie
authors.forename: Dhimiter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.forename: M Abbas
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Virji
authors.forename: Aleksandr B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Stefaniak
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D010087:Oxides / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D010087:Oxides; D002244:Carbon