Documents van Broekhuizen, Pieter 6 results

"Nano reference values (NRVs) for occupational use of nanomaterials were tested as provisional substitute for Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs). NRVs can be used as provisional limit values until Health-Based OELs or derived no-effect levels (DNEL) become available. NRVs were defined for 8 h periods (time weighted average) and for short-term exposure periods (15 min-time weighted average). To assess the usefulness of these NRVs, airborne number concentrations of nanoparticles (NPs) in the workplace environment were measured during paint manufacturing, electroplating, light equipment manufacturing, non-reflective glass production, production of pigment concentrates and car refinishing. Activities monitored were handling of solid engineered NPs (ENP), abrasion, spraying and heating during occupational use of nanomaterials (containing ENPs) and machining nanosurfaces. The measured concentrations are often presumed to contain ENPs as well as process-generated NPs (PGNP). The PGNP are found to be a significant source for potential exposure and cannot be ignored in risk assessment. Levels of NPs identified in workplace air were up to several millions of nanoparticles/cm3. Conventional components in paint manufacturing like CaCO3 and talc may contain a substantial amount of nanosized particulates giving rise to airborne nanoparticle concentrations. It is argued that risk assessments carried out for e.g. paint manufacturing processes using conventional non-nano components should take into account potential nanoparticle emissions as well. The concentrations measured were compared with particle-based NRVs and with mass-based values that have also been proposed for workers protection. It is concluded that NRVs can be used for risk management for handling or processing of nanomaterials at workplaces provided that the scope of NRVs is not limited to ENPs only, but extended to the exposure to process-generated NPs as well."

"'Nano matters' studies the positioning of civil society organisations (CSOs) regarding the responsible development of nanotechnologies and formulates building blocks for a precautionary approach, as to express the CSOs' demands towards industry and governmental authorities. The study assesses the potential risks arising from occupational use of manufactures nanomaterials and identifies large gaps in knowledge and information supply. It develops a concept for generic nano reference values (NRVs) as a tool for risk management of nanomaterials' use. NRVs may provisionally substitute occupational exposure limits, as long as these are not available for nanomaterials. The study also identifies the need to take process-generated nanoparticles into account in risk assessment and emphasizes the likeliness that, at many workplaces, these nanoparticles may be a larger risk than occupational exposure to manufactures nanomaterials."

"This report contains a study on the availability, use and health and safety issues of nanoproducts in the European construction industry anno 2009. A European survey among employers, workers and worker representatives from the construction sector, in-depth interviews with a number of involved key stakeholders and an extensive literature study led to the insights presented.
The awareness of the different actors in the construction industry about the availability and performance of nano-materials is very limited. This holds for the construction employers and employees as well as for the related professions like architects, construction engineers and customers of the constructions.
Only a limited amount of nano-products make it to the construction site of today, because of this lack of awareness and the fact that nano-sized ingredients are often too expensive to result in competitive products. Main product types identified at the market are nanoparticle improved concrete and cement materials, nano-coatings and insulation material. Though, intensive research and development is ongoing and future expectations are that the market share of nano-products and their diversity will grow because of the unique characteristics they do (and are envisaged to) exhibit.
However, these same products might pose new health and safety risks to the worker on-site, which science are only just starting to understand. Especially when the work involves the generation of nanoparticles or aerosols. Typical activities with possible high risks of exposure to nanoparticles are the application of wet or dusty nano-products, machining dried or prefab nano-products and cleaning or maintaining of materials and the equipment used. Detailed information about the product composition and their possible nano-specific health and safety issues though, is generally lacking and the information available to the raw material manufacturer is seen to get lost while stepping down the user chain. "

"In the European construction industry in 2009, the use of engineered nanoparticles appears to be confined to a limited number of products, predominantly coatings, cement and concrete. A survey among representatives of workers and employers from 14 EU countries suggests a high level of ignorance about the availability and use of nanomaterials for the construction industry and the safety aspects thereof. Barriers for a large-scale acceptance of products containing engineered nanoparticles (nanoproducts) are high costs, uncertainties about long-term technical material performance, as well as uncertainties about health risks of nanoproducts. Workplace measurements suggest a modest exposure of construction workers to nanoparticles (NPs) associated with the use of nanoproducts. The measured particles were within a size range of 20–300 nm, with the median diameter below 53 nm. Positive assignment of this exposure to the nanoproduct or to additional sources of ultrafine particles, like the electrical equipment used was not possible within the scope of this study and requires further research. Exposures were below the nano reference values proposed on the basis of a precautionary approach."