Manufacturing Products with Nanomaterials

White Paper

September 2016

Columbia Southern University- Industrial Hygiene

Background/Industry Overview

Nanomaterials uses, continue to increase due to vast applications in different industries. Many companies use engineered nanomaterial to make a products stronger and last longer. According to NIOSH (2013), “It is essential that producers and users of nanomaterials ensure a safe and healthy work environment for employees who may be exposed to these materials” (P.1). The use of engineered nanomaterial is a relatively new and not a lot is known about occupational exposures or what an acceptable level of exposure would be. There are many different agents that are used when engineering nanomaterials and it is employer’s duty to ensure that all employees’ safety and health are the first consideration taken when introducing new agents into the work site.

Engineered nanomaterials are materials that are made to be specifically smaller than 100 nanometers. The majority of the materials that are produced at the smaller size have increased durability and strength, and other improved properties. Nanomaterial production seems to be the future in various industries to improve their existing products. Elmer’s glue uses a nanomaterial, titanium dioxide that helps increase hardness and strength of dried glue. Titanium dioxide is also used in food as an anticaking agent. Most of the products that are manufactured using nanomaterial are from the health and fitness category of products. According to Roco (2005) reports that worldwide, the investment in nanotechnology has increased from $432 million in 1997 to about $4.1 billion in 2005.

Since the manufacturing of nanomaterials is relatively new process, many efforts are underway to determine if there are any significant health and safety to personnel. Some of the results from the initial testing that has been completed by scientists have had some troubling results.

NIOSH [2013]. Current strategies for engineering controls in nanomaterial production and downstream handling processes. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2014–102.

Manufacturing Products with Nanomaterials

What is a nanomaterial?

Occupational Safety and Health Management SystemsA company that produces nanomaterial needs to have an effective health and safety management system. It is important that the expectation from the CEO to the field personnel share the same ideologies when it comes to safety and health of every employee. This includes hazard analysis and prevention for each job step, and finding an effective mitigation as well as training each employee on the materials they are handling. Nanomaterials cover a wide range of hazards depending on which materials are being used and the processes they are using the materials in.

All hazard assessments need to be documented so that it can be referenced and used by the management team and field level personnel for planning of new tasks. If any new hazards are identified that are not documented during the planning phase, it needs to be brought up to safety department and supervison. The introduction of a new chemical or step in a process should automatically trigger a follow hazard assessment, to validate that no new hazards have been created by the new changes in the process. The hazard assessment document is an ever green document which needs to be updated regularly.

As with any production process we always want to work from the top to bottom implementing thehierarchy of controls to minimize the exposure of a hazard to an employee. Elimination is the mosteffective control when working through the hierarchy of controls. When producing a nanomaterial weneed to look at if we can eliminate the particular hazard all together. Are we able to make the sameproduct without the nanomaterial and keep the same properties? The next step would be substitution ofa less harmful nanomaterial that would yield the same results. Engineering controls such as ventilationin the work have proven to be an effective mitigation. Each decision that is made while impletementingcontrols when handling nanomaterials needs to be made with with the health and safety of the personnelthat is working in the production process that is making the nanomaterial.

Exposure control strategies

Manufacturing Products with Nanomaterials

Nanotechnology Processes

NIOSH (2013) stated that "Currently nanomaterials are produced using a variety of methods that provide conditions for the formation of desired shapes, sizes and chemical compositions and that the production processes can be separated into six categories" (p.21):

• Gas Phase Processes, including flame pyrolysis, high-temperature evaporation, and plasma synthesis• Chemical vapor deposition• Colloidal or liquid phase methods• Mechanical processes including grinding, milling and alloying• Atomic and moecular beam epitaxy• Dip pen lithography

Engineering controls, is the means of removing the hazard or putting a barrier between the hazard and the personnel. To idenify an engineering control you have to know the complete process from start to finish. This helps ensure that the that the control will be effective. Most engineering controls cost more upfront but companies see a return on investment on the back end. This also means that the company will save money if the controls are effective because they often dont require any additional training.

Some examples from Pharmaceutical industries of engineering controls for different job tasks are:

• Discharge/collar hood • Glovebox isolator• Continuous Liner • Ventilated booth• Inflatable seal • Wet Suppression

• Nano Fume Hood

Manufacturing Products with Nanomaterials

Engineering Control Methods

NIOSH [2013]. Current strategies for engineering controls in nanomaterial production and downstream handling processes. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2014–102.

Manufacturing Products with Nanomaterials

Since there is not much data reagarding the health and safety exposures regarding producing nanomaterial, steps have to be taken to ensure that the safe guards that are put into place are effective and evaluated peridoically.

Locate the sources that have the highest potential to expose personnel. This will narrow your areas down so that you will be able to conduct a sampling plan.

Once the locations of the potential exposures has been determined the company will want to gather information on the background of the area. This will help differentiate if the area is contaiminated from an outside source that is not part of the sampling plan..

Another factor that has to be considered is what form of the hazard exsists in the work area. This is important so you can determine the sampling method and media that will be require to complete the sampling plan.

A facility should have an audit form that can be used by the supervision to ensure that the engineering controls are working and functioning correctly. This will allow the management team to perform spot checks on their personnel ensure that they are compliant with the companies policies.

Conclusion and Recommendations

There are many factors that need to be accounted for when developing a comprehensive health and safety program for producing nanomaterials. A thorough risk assessment will help a company determine which tasks pose the greater risk to their personnel and help idenitfy an effective mitigation. Even though the nanomaterials industry has not been around for very long there are plenty of resources out that will help guide a company to ensure that their employees are not exposed. The safety of the personnel should be the number one priority in each step of creating a new product with nanomaterials.

NIOSH [2013]. Current strategies for engineering controls in nanomaterial production and downstream handling processes.

Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2014–102.

Control Evaluations