NIOSH One-Pager Includes Accomplishments and Next Steps for Nanotechnology Research Center

On July 9, 2018, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a one-page document on its Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC), which conducts research to understand the potential effects on human health of exposure to engineered nanomaterials and develops methods to control or eliminate exposures.  NTRC’s accomplishments include:

• Publishing 101 journal articles in the peer-reviewed scientific literature during 2017;
• Publishing a new chapter in the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), 5th Ed. on the use of electron microscopy to analyze workplace air samples for carbon nanotubes/fibers;
• Publishing one of the first papers to look at toxicity along the lifecycle of a nanomaterial to provide context to potential health effects;
• Expanding research in additive manufacturing and publishing laboratory and field study results that characterize 3D printer emissions;
• Characterizing 22 commercial spray products claiming nano or colloidal silver as the active ingredient and finding a high degree of variability between claimed and measured values;
• Publishing a series of three nanomaterial handling recommendations, “Workplace Design Solutions”; and
• Publishing a workplace poster, “Controlling Health Hazards When Working with Nanomaterials: Questions to Ask Before You Start.”

NTRC’s next steps include:

• Publishing “Current Intelligence Bulletin: Health Effects from Occupational Exposure to Silver Nanomaterials”;
• Evaluating biomarkers, cardiovascular toxicity, and pulmonary exposure to nanoclays and boron nitride nanotubes; and
• Completing peer and stakeholder review of the draft “Current Intelligence Bulletin: Approaches to Developing Occupational Exposure Limits or Bands for Engineered Nanomaterials.”