Characterization and Control of Occupational Exposure to Nanoparticles and Ultrafine Particles
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Chemical Substances and Biological Agents Studies and Research Projects REPORT R-777 Characterization and Control of Occupational Exposure to Nanoparticles and Ultrafine Particles Maximilien Debia Charles Beaudry Scott Weichenthal Robert Tardif André Dufresne Established in Québec since 1980, the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) is a scientific research organization known for the quality of its work and the expertise of its personnel. OUR RESEARCH is working for you ! Mission To contribute, through research, to the prevention of industrial accidents and occupational diseases, and to the rehabilitation of affected workers; To disseminate knowledge and serve as a scientific reference centre and expert; To provide the laboratory services and expertise required to support the public occupational health and safety prevention network. 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Subscription: www.csst.qc.ca/AbonnementPAT Legal Deposit Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec 2013 ISBN: 978-2-89631-670-0 (PDF) ISSN: 0820-8395 IRSST – Communications and Knowledge Transfer Division 505 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West Montréal, Québec H3A 3C2 Phone: 514 288-1551 Fax: 514 288-7636 [email protected] www.irsst.qc.ca © Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, May 2013 Chemical Substances and Biological Agents Studies and Research Projects REPORT R-777 Characterization and Control of Occupational Exposure to Nanoparticles and Ultrafine Particles Disclaimer Maximilien Debia, Charles Beaudry, Scott Weichenthal, The IRSST makes no guarantee as to Robert Tardif, André Dufresne the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information contained in this Université de Montréal document. Under no circumstances shall the IRSST be held liable for any physical or psychological injury or material damage resulting from the use of this information. It should further be noted that the content of the document is protected by Canadian intellectual property legislation. This publication is available free of charge on the Web site. This study was funded in the framework of an agreement between the IRSST and NanoQuébec. The conclusions and recommendations are those of the authors. This publication has been translated; only the original version (R-746) is authoritative. IN CONFORMITY WITH THE IRSST’S POLICIES The results of the research work published in this document have been peer-reviewed. IRSST - Characterization and Control of Occupational Exposure to Nanoparticles and Ultrafine i Particles ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We wish to thank all the people who assisted us in this project and who enabled us to achieve the measures presented in this report. By doing this, they have contributed to improving the prevention of occupational risks. In particular, we thank Claude Ostiguy of the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) for his role in the project and Gilles L’Espérance’s team at the Centre de Caractérisation Microscopique des Matériaux, (CM)², for the microscopic analyses. We also express our great appreciation to this project’s two funding agencies, the IRSST and NanoQuébec. IRSST - Characterization and Control of Occupational Exposure to Nanoparticles and Ultrafine iii Particles ABSTRACT Many workers are exposed to a range of particles present on a nanometric scale. In occupational hygiene, it is common to differentiate manufactured nanoparticles (NP) from ultrafine particles (UFP) coming from natural, human or industrial sources. Given that major deficiencies exist in the usual risk assessment approaches for these particles, the objective of this research was to assess occupational UFP and NP exposures. The secondary objective was comprehensive testing of the assessment capabilities regarding occupational NP and UFP exposures in an industrial and laboratory context. Two main types of assessment were performed during this research. The first concerns the assessment of the fine and ultrafine particle concentrations with a particle counter (P-Trak, model 8525), and the second pertains to the assessment of fine and ultrafine particle size distribution with an electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI). The measurements were taken in two welding schools, an aluminium smelter, the research centre of a thermoplastics processing company, and three university laboratories producing and/or using nanoparticles. The results revealed that aluminium smelter workers, people who perform welding tasks, and workers in the thermoplastic processing industry are exposed to UFPs. However, the assessments performed under this study do not reveal high NP concentrations in research laboratories. Only NP production by milling generated detectable NP concentrations. NP handling in glove boxes of two other laboratories seems to prevent worker exposure adequately. There is currently no consensus concerning UFP and NP exposure evaluation measures. However, our findings suggest that the P-Trak is suitable for occupational assessment of UFP concentrations, whereas several uncertainties remain to assess NP exposure, particularly in their agglomerated form. In view of this research, it appears that a characterization and control study of occupational NP and UFP exposure should include assessment of the mass and particle number concentrations, measurement of granulometric distribution and electron microscopic characterization of nanoscale particles. IRSST - Characterization and Control of Occupational Exposure to Nanoparticles and Ultrafine v Particles TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................. I ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... III TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. V LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... VII LIST OF FIGURES......................................................................................................... IX LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................... XI 1. ORIGIN AND CONTEXT OF THE STUDY .................................................................... 1 2. STATE OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ULTRAFINE PARTICLES AND NANOPARTICLES .............................. 3 2.1.1 Effects on Health and Safety ....................................................................................... 3 2.1.2 Metrology .................................................................................................................... 3 2.1.3 Nanoparticle Exposure ................................................................................................ 4 2.1.4 Ultrafine Particle Exposure ......................................................................................... 5 2.1.5 Means of Controlling Exposure .................................................................................. 5 2.1.6 Risk Management ....................................................................................................... 6 2.1.7 Regulation, Programs, Standardization and Guides ................................................... 6 3. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY ........................................................................................... 8 4. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................... 9 4.1 Metrology and Assessment Strategies ............................................................................ 9 4.2 Study Environments ...................................................................................................... 10 4.2.1 Welding Schools ....................................................................................................... 10 4.2.2 Aluminium Smelter ................................................................................................... 11 4.2.3 Thermoplastic Processing Industry ........................................................................... 11 4.2.4 University Laboratories Producing or Using Nanoparticles ..................................... 12 5. RESULTS ............................................................................................................................ 15 5.1 Welding Schools ........................................................................................................... 15 5.1.1 School A.................................................................................................................... 15 5.1.2 School B .................................................................................................................... 18 5.2 Aluminium Smelter ....................................................................................................... 19 5.3 Thermoplastic Processing