title: Airborne engineered nanomaterials in the workplace-a review of release and worker exposure during nanomaterial production and handling processes.
abstract: For exposure and risk assessment in occupational settings involving engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), it is important to understand the mechanisms of release and how they are influenced by the ENM, the matrix material, and process characteristics. This review summarizes studies providing ENM release information in occupational settings, during different industrial activities and using various nanomaterials. It also assesses the contextual information - such as the amounts of materials handled, protective measures, and measurement strategies - to understand which release scenarios can result in exposure. High-energy processes such as synthesis, spraying, and machining were associated with the release of large numbers of predominantly small-sized particles. Low-energy processes, including laboratory handling, cleaning, and industrial bagging activities, usually resulted in slight or moderate releases of relatively large agglomerates. The present analysis suggests that process-based release potential can be ranked, thus helping to prioritize release assessments, which is useful for tiered exposure assessment approaches and for guiding the implementation of workplace safety strategies. The contextual information provided in the literature was often insufficient to directly link release to exposure. The studies that did allow an analysis suggested that significant worker exposure might mainly occur when engineering safeguards and personal protection strategies were not carried out as recommended.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Work and Health (IST), Universities of Lausanne and Geneva, Route de la Corniche 2, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Yaobo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology (IUTA), Air Quality & Sustainable Nanotechnology Unit, Bliersheimer Straße 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany; Centre for Nanointegration (CENIDE), University Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas A J
authors.initials: TAJ
authors.lastname: Kuhlbusch
authors.affiliation: Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Tongeren
authors.affiliation: Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Araceli Sánchez
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.affiliation: TNO, Lange Kleiweg 137, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tuinman
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing 100190, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: ACCIONA Infrastructure, Materials Area, Innovation Division, C/Valportillo II 8, 28108, Alcobendas, Spain.
authors.forename: Iñigo Larraza
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mikolajczyk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology (IUTA), Air Quality & Sustainable Nanotechnology Unit, Bliersheimer Straße 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology (IUTA), Air Quality & Sustainable Nanotechnology Unit, Bliersheimer Straße 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology (IUTA), Air Quality & Sustainable Nanotechnology Unit, Bliersheimer Straße 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.affiliation: Dept. Material Physics, BASF SE, Advanced Materials Research, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wendel
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wohlleben
authors.affiliation: Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology (IUTA), Air Quality & Sustainable Nanotechnology Unit, Bliersheimer Straße 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stahlmecke
authors.affiliation: NanoSafety Platform, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, 38054, France.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clavaguera
authors.affiliation: Institute for Work and Health (IST), Universities of Lausanne and Geneva, Route de la Corniche 2, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland; SAFENANO, IOM Singapore, 30 Raffles Place #17-00, Chevron House, Singapore, 048622, Singapore. Electronic address: Michael.Riediker@alumni.ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riediker
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational
keywords: Emission; Grouping; Nanoparticles; Occupational exposure; Risk assessment