Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are often fascinating, new materials with significantly improved or completely novel properties. Some other ENMs have been marketed for decades, e.g., carbon black, synthetic amorphous silica, pigments.
A brochure gives a pragmatic approach to an exposure assessment of nanoscale aerosols released from ENMs in the workplace. The tiered approach focuses on a size range from 1 to 100 nm and is designed to support assessment of health risks from solid, particulate substances released as nanoscale aerosol from ENMs in routine workplace operations.
Exposure measurement of nanoscale aerosols released from ENMs in the work-place is possible and exposure assessment methodologies exist. However, methodologies are not yet standardized and more difficult to apply as in routine operations. The tired approach may serve as a starting point for further international harmonization of exposure assessment to nanoscale aerosols released from ENMs.
The approach was developed in a dialogue by the Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology e.V. (IUTA), the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), the German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Raw Materials and Chemical Industry (BG RCI), the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the DGUV (IFA), the Technical University Dresden (TUD) and the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI).
