Method for identification of workstations concerned with exposure to nanomaterials

Purpose of the study: To develop an operational method for identifying workers potentially exposed to manufactured nano-objects and their aggregates and agglomerates (NOAA) and assessing their potential exposure in frame of epidemiological surveillance program EpiNano.
Method: The method was developed by a multidisciplinary working group. It consists of a company visit guided by a standardized tool “Field technical logbook”. This tool enables assessing a set of parameters necessary for identification and characterization of workstations concerned with NOAA exposure, namely a detailed description of tasks and processes, personal and collective protection equipment, NOAA characteristics before and after transformation and other exposure surrounding conditions. The method was tested in ten companies. After each visit, all information collected in the logbook was computerized via a friendly-using application. A pdf copy of data was sent to the company along with proceedings of the visit listing workstations classified as concerned with NOAA exposure, for validation.
Results: All proceedings were validated. Among 53 workstations observed during all the visits, 30 (57%) were classified as concerned with NOAA exposure, namely workstations dealing with NOAA synthesis, sampling, transfer and functionalization. In private companies there were 60% of workstations classified as concerned with NOAA exposure versus 54% in public companies. Numerous parameters were likely to determine the exposure classification, particularly humidity and dustiness of the NOAA powders. The assessment of these parameters might be useful for all companies since it also serves in implementing exposure control banding.
Conclusion: This simple and non-instrumental method (without aerosol sampling and measurements) was developed for epidemiologists but could be useful to all occupational health actors in the field of nanotechnology.