Industrial Hygiene Nanoparticle Risks

Occupational Toxicology

Bakand, S., Hayes, A. & Deschakulthorn, F. (2012). Nanoparticles: A review of particle toxicology following inhalation exposure. Inhalation Toxicology. Vol. 24 (2) 125-135.

The article can be found at the following URL: http://www.tums.ac.ir/1391/11/28/Nano%20Inh%20Tox%2008958378.2012.pdf-sh-bakand-2013-02-16-10-35.pdf

This article discusses one of the emerging issues in inhalation toxicology, which is nanoparticles. The authors note from the outset that the "rapid expansion of nanotechnology" is going to result in a spike in nanoparticles that can infiltrate the lungs of workers, and that it is important to understand the implications of this increase. The authors have done a review of the literature on the subject, and determined that there are links between exposure to ambient ultrafine particles and increased morbidity and mortality. They note that nanoparticles are more likely to be more toxic than larger particles as well, because nanoparticles can be inhaled more deeply into the lungs.

There are several implications for this research, given the expected increase in the amount of exposure that people will have to nanoparticles going forward, including the need to better understand the effects that nanoparticles have, and finding ways to ensure that workers are protected from nanoparticles. Many conventional filters or masks are unable to filter nanoparticles, so there is a need for protection technology to improve along with the incidence of nanoparticles. Further, industrial sites need to learn more about what nanoparticles are in their environments. For the industrial hygienist, this is a necessary element -- to understand what exposures are being created, in order that they can be properly addressed.

The authors also stress that there is insufficient knowledge with respect to the ways that nanoparticles interact with biological systems. In particular, they note that nanoparticles affect extrapulmonary organs, so while the lungs are the gateway for nanoparticles into the body nanoparticles have a much greater impact that goes beyond the lungs.

This article is valuable to the study of emerging issues in occupational toxicology because it touches on an area that is growing, but where the risks are relatively unknown. Nanotechnologies are being developed for their value to business, but the protections against nanoparticles are not keeping pace with the developments in nanotechnology, and this creates significant risks for workers who are exposed to higher levels of nanoparticles. Industrial hygiene as a field has to keep up with the emerging technologies in order to be able to keep workplaces safe, so understanding what new risks and exposures are being created is important. The authors of this study have determined that not only are nanoparticles increasing in their usage, but that they carry considerably more risks than we presently are aware of. Industrial hygienists will need to take nanoparticles into account in their work, and will need to work hard to develop solutions that address this issue -- nanoparticles are too small to be seen, which increases the difficulty in identifying the levels of exposure in a workplace, and makes it more difficult to filter them out of the environment and thus afford workers adequate protections.