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■ Exposure measurements and risk assessment of manufactured materials / nanoparticles
2009 – 2012
Project leader: INRS
Project members: IFA, FIOH, HSL,INSHT, INAIL Research, NRCWE, STAMI, TNO

To date, relatively few information is available on assessment of occupational exposure to MMNPs. Although new measurement techniques have been developed, quite some knowledge needs to be developed on their performances, and their applicability remains to be evaluated for exposure assessment. Measurement strategies have to be developed and tested in workplaces. In addition, relevance of dustiness to be used as one exposure determinant in control banding approach need to be examined.

Scientifically credible measurement methods are essential in order to control potential occupational health risk from current and emerging nanotechnologies. Given the fast pace of developments in applications of nanomaterials and the complex and multidisciplinary nature of this issue, there is an urgent need for more international cooperation to accelerate the process of risk assessment. Exposure assessment is a critical component of risk assessment, and improvements in this area will allow development in toxicology, epidemiology and evaluation of effectiveness of prevention measures. The overall goal of the project is to improve the knowledge into how exposure to MMMPs should be measured in the context of risk assessment.

Two projects have been defined within this topic.

Project A: Nanodustiness project
The objectives of the project are to:
- develop a harmonized approach within the involved institutes for evaluating dustiness of nanopowders taking into account the different existing concepts and test apparatus
- assess the comparability between involved institutes and the reproducibility within one’s institute for a given test apparatus using the developed approach
- evaluate how the dustiness ranking of a selection of nanopowders is similar using the different test apparatus and approach developed within the project

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More information: Dr. Olivier Witschger, INRS, e-mail

Project B: Nano Exposure & Contextual Information Database (NECID) project
The aim is to establish a database on occupational exposure to manufactured nanopar­ticles.
The goal of the development of an exposure database on nano-objects is to permit the sys­tematic and uniform documentation of operating, exposure and measured data so that they are available for research, exposure modelling and exposure scenario building. The database will contribute to improve and harmonize nano-objects exposure assessment and could be a source of information for risk management and development of occupational exposure limits.

The database will provide a general overview of occupational exposure levels of nanoma­terials in different exposure situations, and will
- be a key tool for building exposure scenarios and future exposure modeling.
- provide an ideal source of information for risk management, and development of oc­cupational exposure benchmark levels/limits
- contribute to an improved and harmonized quantification of exposures assessment and encourage new measurements.

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More information: Dr Derk Brouwer, e-mail, Dr Markus Berges, e-mail


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