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" IOM Singapore's SAFENANO unit publishes Position Statement on Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibres"

Following the publication of NIOSH's "Current Intelligence Bulletin 65: Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers (2013)" the SafeNano Unit from IOM Singapore has prepared a Position Statement n Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and Nanofibres (CNFs). The NIOSH guidance is considered to be important and timely, highlighting the need to make sure that CNTs and CNFs are not released into the working environment and the risks are effectively controlled.

This Position Statement provides succinct recommendations for employers, policy-makers and the research community when dealing with the potential hazard of occupational exposure to carbon-based nanomaterials.

Download of the Position Paper here (PDF, 187 kb)

Contact: Michael.Riediker@iom-world.sg

About the SAFENANO Project:
SAFENANO is Europe's Centre of Excellence on Nanotechnology Hazard and Risk, based at the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM). The poject is dedicated to providing the highest quality expertise to help nanotechnology emerge and develop on a safe and sustainable basis, maximising its commercial potential, through a continuous development and improvement of our knowledge, equipment and practice.

"EU report published on REACH requirements for nanomaterials – results from EU project Nano Support"

Until now the European chemical regulation REACH is only applicable for nanomaterials in a few cases although this inclusion of nanomaterials could have a positive impact on health, environment and society. That states the latest report of a study conducted by the EU Project NanoSupport that was commissioned by the European Commission

In 2010 the DG Environment of the European Commission launched the NANO SUPPORT project (Scientific technical support on assessment of nanomaterials in REACH registration dossiers and adequacy of available information) to generate Scientific and technical support for the assessment of nanomaterials under REACH.
In a first step, EU experts compiled a list of 21 possible actions on how to integrate nanomaterials in REACH of which 12 are already implemented in the current reach dossiers. The latest report now describes the examination and evaluation of a possible impact for companies, consumers, human health and the environment if the other nine amendments should be implemented as well.

Full report of NANO SUPPORT Project (Task 2):
Examination and assessment of consequences for industry, consumers, human health and the environment of possible options for changing the REACH requirements for nanomaterials. Reference: IHCP/2011/I/05/27/OC. BiPRO GmbH in cooperation with Institute of Applied Ecology, 14^{t h} January 2013. (PDF, 1,3 MB).

"US authority NIOSH recommends new level of exposure for nanomaterials"

NIOSH has recommended an occupational exposure limit of 1 µg/m3 for carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibres.

The US authority NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) has recommended that occupational exposures to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibres (CNFs) need to be controlled in order to reduce the potential risk of certain work-related lung effects. CNTs and CNFs are man-made elongated particles made of sheets of pure carbon that are approximately a thousand times smaller than a human hair.

NIOSH's recommendations are summarised in the technical document „Current Intelligence Bulletin No. 65: Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibres“. They are based on peer-reviewed findings from NIOSH laboratory studies, field observations of industrial processes, intensive review of published studies by other research authorities, and public review and comment on an earlier draft of the document.

Recent results from experimental animal studies with rodents indicate that exposure to CNTs and CNFs may pose a respiratory hazard if inhaled. NIOSH's recommendations are expected to assist industry in establishing good risk management practices for controlling occupational exposures to free, unbound CNTs and CNFs during their manufacture and industrial use.

The complete press release can be accessed via www.cdc.goc/niosh.

Download of the Technical Document „Current Intelligence Bulletin 65: Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers (2013)” as PDF www.cdc.goc/niosh.

"EAWAG Study : “Barely any nanosilver from consumer products in the water”
 

Nanosilver in wastewater can cause severe environmental damage if it occurs as a metal. A team led by Ralf Kägi from Eawag in Dübendorf has examined within the scope of the National Research Programme "Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials" (NRP 64)  more closely just what happens to nanosilver on its journey from the drainpipe to the wastewater treatment plant, and in what form it is eventually released into the environment.

The study shows for the first time that nanosilver is quickly transformed into less problematic substances on its way to the wastewater treatment plant. In addition, it is efficiently retained in the sewage sludge so that only a small portion of it reaches the water systems. The study did not examine what happens to nanosilver in the sewage sludge thereafter. In Switzerland, it is not permissible to use sewage sludge on farmland, and most of the sludge is therefore burned.

The full press release can be read here under www.eawag.ch.

For more information about Eawag and the NRP 64 visit our DaNa Dialogue-Sites.

Link to the original Publication:
Kaegi, R., A. Voegelin, C. Ort, B. Sinnet, B. Thalmann, J. Krismer, H. Hagendorfer, M. Elumelu and E. Mueller (2013). "Fate and transformation of silver nanoparticles in urban wastewater systems." Water Res. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.11.060.

Also available as a PDF from the SNSF; e-mail: com@snf.ch