Journal article
The difficulties in establishing an occupational exposure limit for carbon nanotubes
Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology, Vol.20(5), pp.1-12
05/07/2018
DOI: 10.1007/s11051-018-4221-7
Abstract
Concern over the health effects from the inhalation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been building for some time, and adverse health effects found in animal studies include acute and chronic respiratory damage, cardiac inflammation, and cancer including mesothelioma, heretofore only associated with asbestos exposure. The strong animal evidence of toxicity requires that the occupational hygiene community develops strategies for reducing or eliminating worker exposures to CNTs; part of this strategy involves the setting of occupational exposure limits (OELs) for CNTs. A number of government agencies and private entities have established OELs for CNTs; some are mass-based, while others rely on number concentration. We review these various proposed standards and discuss the pros and cons of each approach. We recommend that specific action be taken, including intensified outreach to employers and employees concerning the potential adverse health effects from CNT inhalation, the development of more nuanced OELs that reflect the complex nature of CNT exposure, a broader discussion of these issues among all interested parties, and further research into important unanswered questions including optimum methods to evaluate CNT exposures. We conclude that current animal toxicity evidence suggests that strong action needs to be taken to minimize exposures to CNTs, and that any CNT OEL should be consistent with the need to minimize exposures.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The difficulties in establishing an occupational exposure limit for carbon nanotubes
- Creators
- M Ellenbecker - Toxics Use Reduction Institute, University of Massachusetts LowellS-J Tsai - Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Science, Colorado State UniversityM Jacobs - Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts LowellM Riediker - Institute for Work and HealthT Peters - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, The University of IowaS Liou - National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesA Avila - Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Centro de Microelectrónica (CMUA), Universidad de los AndesS FossHansen - Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology, Vol.20(5), pp.1-12
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11051-018-4221-7
- ISSN
- 1388-0764
- eISSN
- 1572-896X
- Grant note
- No funding was received in connection with this manuscript
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/07/2018
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984214700002771
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