Methods to reduce risk of exposure to nanomaterials

Safe Work Australia Chair Tom Phillips, AM recently released two research reports on engineered nanomaterials, along with a nanotechnology risk assessment tool.

Safe Work Australia commissioned the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology to undertake a survey for the report entitled ‘Engineered Nano-materials: investigating substitution and modification options to reduce potential hazards’. The survey assessed the current substitution and modification practices used in Australian nanotechnology activities.

A literature review was also conducted to determine the potential substitution and modification options that may reduce the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials. Key findings in the report include:

• Australian researchers and companies use a range of methods to substitute or modify engineered nanomaterials; and
• Currently, substitution or modification is mainly used to change the properties of products for end-use.

Methods including surface modification, particle size control and functional group addition can also be used to decrease the potential toxicity of engineered nanomaterials. There is potential for researchers, developers and manufacturers of engineered nanomaterials to apply these methods more broadly to address work health and safety-related issues.

The Monash University Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health was commissioned to undertake research for the report entitled ‘Engineered Nano-materials: feasibility of established exposure standards and using control banding in Australia’. Key findings in the report include:

• Benchmark exposure levels are precautionary limits that can be assigned to groups of nanomaterials;
• Benchmark exposure levels may be adopted as guidance initially and may be converted into National Exposure Standards as further hazard, risk and measurement data become available;
• Exposure levels below the benchmark exposure levels can be achieved using conventional engineering controls;
• The choice of appropriate workplace controls for nanomaterials can be facilitated using the control banding approach to risk management; and
• Control banding should be used in conjunction with current jurisdictional work health and safety regulations.

The use of both benchmark exposure levels and control banding are consistent with a precautionary approach to handling nanomaterials, as recommended by Safe Work Australia where limited information about hazards and risks is available.

Phillips said that these reports provide a reliable source of information to help protect the health and safety of people working with nanomaterials: “By using the identified methods to reduce the risk posed by the use of nanomaterials and assessing exposure levels, we can work towards building a safer working environment and a safer community.

“Safe Work Australia is continuing to facilitate research on engineered nanomaterials to contribute to national and global research efforts on nanotechnology.”

Safe Work Australia has also released the Work Health and Safety Assessment Tool for Handling Engineered Nano-materials, which can be used by organisations and regulators when assessing the use of nanomaterials.

The assessment tool allows the user to record the types of nanomaterials manufactured or supplied, the processes and controls used to prevent exposure to nanoparticles and problems faced with managing nanotechnology work health and safety.

The reports, risk assessment tool and further information on the nanotechnology work health and safety program can be found at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au.