1Hazmat 2011

Nanotechnology Work Health & Safety

Dr Howard Morris

Nanotechnology Work Health & Safety Manager

Safe Work Australia

11 May 2011

2Hazmat 2011

Presentation Structure

• Application of Work Health & Safety Regulatory Framework to nanotechnologies & nanomaterials

• Issues that impact on nanotechnology work health & safety management & regulation

• Work to address issues – Nanotechnology Work Health & Safety Program

• Current & future focus

3Hazmat 2011

Engineered Nanomaterials: Advances in understanding

• Hazards – limited understanding, but growing

– no novel toxicities, but generally more toxic than macrosize (Toxikos, 2009)

– range of hazard severities

• Potential exposure– application/process dependent

– higher for free nanomaterials

• Effectiveness of conventional controls – can effectively reduce exposures to nanomaterials (RMIT

University 2009)

• Measurement of emissions & exposures– use combination of techniques (OECD WPMN 2009)

4Hazmat 2011

Application of work health and safety regulatory framework to nanotechnologies

• Obligations under work health and safety legislation need to be met for nanomaterials and nanotechnologies

– work health and safety regulations generally

– regulations for hazardous chemicals

• Issues are being addressed to ensure effective regulation of engineered nanomaterials

– Nanotechnology Work Health & Safety Program

5Hazmat 2011

Application of precautionary approach to nanotechnologies

• Where understanding of hazards is limited, Safe Work Australia is advocating a precautionary approach be taken to controlling exposures to engineered nanomaterials

• Advice to Australian nanotechnology organisations is:

– to use the best practicable means of preventing or minimising workplace exposures to engineered nanomaterials

• Developing guidance on how to do this

6Hazmat 2011

Safe Work Australia’s Nanotechnology Work Health & Safety Program

• Supported by funding under National Enabling Technologies Strategy

• Focus areas

– Nanotechnologies & Work Health & Safety Regulatory Framework

– Understanding hazardous properties of engineered nanomaterials

– Evaluating effectiveness of workplace controls

– Emissions and exposure measurement capability

– Information & guidance for Australian nanotechnology organisations

– Participating in international initiatives & ensuring consistency with international approaches

7Hazmat 2011

Safe Work Australia’s national stakeholder groups

• Nanotechnology Work Health & Safety Advisory Group

– promoting a coordinated national approach to the management of nanotechnology work health & safety issues

• Nanotechnology Work Health & Safety Measurement Reference Group

– developing nanomaterial exposure and emissions measurement capability

8Hazmat 2011

Nanotechnology Work Health & Safety Program – Published reports

Plus: Work health and safety assessment tool for handling engineered nanomaterials

9Hazmat 2011

Designing workplace controls

• As for other chemicals,

Apply the hierarchy of controls

– aim to use approaches as high as possible in the hierarchy

– in practice a combination of approaches will work best

Elimination

Substitution/modification

Process enclosure

Local exhaust ventilation

Administrative approaches

Personal Protective Equipment

10Hazmat 2011

Effectiveness of workplace controlsModification of fullerenes

C. Sayes et al. (2004) Nano Letters 4(10):1881-87

11Hazmat 2011

Effectiveness of workplace controlsProcess enclosure

• Can significantly reduce emissions from nanomaterial processesBlending with carbon nanotubes for composites, Han et al, Inhalation Toxicology, (2008)

• Can be used in combination with other control measures

Engineered nanomaterials: Effectiveness

of workplace controls

N. Jackson et al, RMIT University (2009)

Number of CNTs/cm3

Before process enclosure

After process enclosure

Personal 193.6 0.018

Area 172.9 0.05

Use of PPE when workingin fume cabinet withengineered nanomaterials CSIRO, 2009

Reduction in exposure through process enclosure (Han et al)

12Hazmat 2011

Effectiveness of workplace controlsCan filter materials capture nanoparticles? • YES

– MPPS around 300nm for HEPA filters

– Capture mechanism depends on particle diameter Nanosafe2, 2008

• Capture efficiency depends on:

– Flow rate– Type of filter material

Engineered nanomaterials: Effectiveness of

workplace controls

N. Jackson et al, RMIT University (2009)

Reference Filter material type & certification

Filtration efficiency for particles <100 nm

Martin & Moyer (2000)

N95, <5% penetration

<5% penetration

Richardson et al. (2005)

N95, <5% penetration

<5% for low flow rateMax >5%, high flow rate

Richardson et al. (2005)

P100, <0.03% penetration

<0.03% for low flow rateMax >0.03%, high flow rate

13Hazmat 2011

Nanotechnology Work Health & Safety Program – Current research projects

Commissioned Project Organisation

Experimental research into durability of carbon nanotubes and their potential to cause inflammation

CSIRO/UK IOM/ Edinburgh University

Examination of laser printer emissions

Examination of health risk from laser printer emissions

Queensland University of Technology/WHSQ

Toxikos

Review of physicochemical (safety) hazards Toxikos

Assessment of measurement techniques for different types of engineered nanomaterials & measurement of exposures in workplace settings

Queensland University of Technology/WHSQ

14Hazmat 2011

Safe Work Australia’s participation in national nanotechnology forums

• Forums convened by DIISR under National Enabling Technologies Strategy (NETS)

– Health, Safety & Environment Working Group

– Communications Group

• Standards Australia Nanotechnology Committee (NT-001)

– Chair

– Health, Safety & Environment sub-committee

15Hazmat 2011

Safe Work Australia’s participation in international forums

• UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the GHS

• ISO Nanotechnology Technical Committee

• OECD WPMN SG8 – Nanomaterial Exposure Measurement & Mitigation

• Liaison with international partners

16Hazmat 2011

16

ISO’s Nanotechnology Technical Committee (TC229)

• 36 Participating members & 8 Observer members• Australian input

– through Standards Australia Nanotechnology Committee (NT-001)– support through DIISR

Working Group Focus Convenor

1 Terminology & Nomenclature

Canada

2 Measurement & Characterisation

Japan

3 Health, Safety & Environment

USA

4 Materials Specification China

17Hazmat 2011

17

ISO Definitions – ISO/TS 80004-1

Nanoscale• The size range from approximately 1 nm to 100 nm

Nanomaterial• Material with any external dimension in the nanoscale

or having internal structure or surface structure in the nanoscale

Engineered Nanomaterial• Nanomaterial designed for specific purpose or

function

Manufactured Nanomaterial• Nanomaterial intentionally produced for commercial

purpose to have specific properties or specific composition

18Hazmat 2011

18

ISO TC229 - Health, Safety & Environment

Supporting OECD WPMN

Safety of nanomaterial

products

Environmentallysound use

of nanomaterials

Determining relative toxicity

& hazard potential

Toxicological screening

Controlling Occupational

Exposures

FOCUS AREAS

19Hazmat 2011

19

OECD WPMN - Exposure measurement & mitigation of manufactured nanomaterials

Project Topic Status

Emission assessment for identification of sources and release of airborne manufactured nanomaterials in the workplace: Compilation of existing guidance. ENV/JM/MONO(2009)16

Published

Comparison of guidance on selection of PPE for use in the workplace

Published

Comparison of guidelines relating to exposure to nanomaterials in laboratories.

Published

Evaluate data and provide recommendation on measurement technologies and sampling protocols for determining concentrations of manufactured nanomaterials in air

Current

20Hazmat 2011

Addressing carbon nanotubes issues

• Understanding hazards

– Review of nanomaterials health hazards (Toxikos)

– Durability of carbon nanotubes and their potential to cause inflammation (CSIRO/IOM/Edinburgh University)

• Regulation

– Health hazard assessment for classification (NICNAS)

• Measurement of carbon nanotubes emissions/exposures

– Detection in the workplace (CSIRO)

– Determining/validating suitable techniques (QUT/WHSQ)

• Developing guidance

– Guide for safe handling & disposal of carbon nanotubes (CSIRO)

21ISO TC229 WG3, May 2011

Durability of carbon nanotubes and their potential to cause inflammation (CSIRO/IOM/Edinburgh University)

• Key findings in the report include:– Carbon nanotubes can be durable but may also break down

in simulated lung fluid, depending on the type of sample– If they are fibre-like and sufficiently long, carbon nanotubes

can induce asbestos-like responses in the peritoneal cavity of mice, but this response is significantly reduced if the nanotubes are less durable

– Tightly agglomerated particle-like bundles of carbon nanotubes did not cause an inflammatory response in the peritoneal cavity of mice

• Shorter carbon nanotubes or bundles of carbon nanotubes can still be hazardous in the lungs

All forms of carbon nanotubes should be handled with a high level of caution in the workplace

22Hazmat 2011

National Codes of Practice for Safety Data Sheets and Workplace Labelling

• SDS and Labels must be provided if chemical classified as hazardous

• Many engineered nanomaterials are not currently classified as hazardous

• Issues with SDS for nanomaterials (Toxikos 2010)

• Safe Work Australia

– supports precautionary approach to handling nanomaterials

– recommends SDS/label provided for engineered or manufactured nanomaterials unless evidence they are not hazardous

– proposes additional non-mandatory parameters in SDS Heading 9, on Physical and Chemical Properties

23Hazmat 2011

International engagement on Safety Data Sheets

• ISO project on Preparation of safety data sheets for manufactured nanomaterials

– Australia contributing to project

• Australian proposal reported to UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the GHS

– Papers to December 2009 & 2010 meetings

24Hazmat 2011

A Precautionary Approach to Control – Possible approach to developing guidance

• Define aim maximum airborne concentration levels

– Benchmark Exposure Levels (BELs)

– For groups of nanomaterials

– Precautionary & pragmatic

• Basis of measurement

– OECD Emission Assessment Guidance? Being validated

• Determine workplace controls needed to achieve BELs

– For different nanomaterial groups

– Various processes

Nanoscale Material

National Exposure Standard

(TWA)

Carbon black

3mg/m3

Fumed silica

2mg/m3

25Hazmat 2011

2011 Planned Projects Main Focus - Guidance & Training

General guide on safe handling & disposal of nanomaterials

Training course on safe handling & disposal of nanomaterials

Develop guidance on nanotechnologies & regulatory framework

Update to review of toxicology & health hazards

Examining potential release of nanomaterials from articles during cutting/machining

26Hazmat 2011

• Obligations under work health and safety legislation need to be met for nanomaterials and nanotechnologies

• Issues are being addressed to help ensure the

effective regulation and management of engineered nanomaterials through the Nanotechnology Work Health & Safety Program

27Hazmat 2011

Further Information

• My contact details

Phone: 02 6121 9127

Email: howard.morris@safeworkaustralia.gov.au

• Website: www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au