Occupational exposure to airborne nanomaterials: an assessment of worker exposure to aerosolized metal oxide nanoparticles in a semiconductor fab and subfab

Details

• Personal Author:
  Brenner SA ; Caglayan C ; Neu-Baker NM ; Zurbenko IG
• Description:
  This occupational exposure assessment study characterized potential inhalation exposures of workers to engineered nanomaterials associated with chemical mechanical planarization wafer polishing processes in a semiconductor research and development facility. Air sampling methodology was designed to capture airborne metal oxide nanoparticles for characterization. The research team obtained air samples in the fab and subfab areas using a combination of filter-based capture methods to determine particle morphology and elemental composition and real-time direct-reading instruments to determine airborne particle counts. Filter-based samples were analyzed by electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy while real-time particle counting data underwent statistical analysis. Sampling was conducted during worker tasks associated with preventive maintenance and quality control that were identified as having medium to high potential for inhalation exposure based on qualitative assessments. For each sampling event, data was collected for comparison between the background, task area, and personal breathing zone. Sampling conducted over nine months included five discrete sampling series events in coordination with on-site employees under real working conditions. The number of filter-based samples captured was: eight from worker personal breathing zones; seven from task areas; and five from backgrounds. A complementary suite of direct-reading instruments collected data for seven sample collection periods in the task area and six in the background. Engineered nanomaterials of interest (Si, Al, Ce) were identified in filter-based samples from all areas of collection, existing as agglomerates (>500nm) and nanoparticles (100nm-500nm). Particle counts showed an increase in number concentration above background during a subset of the job tasks, but particle counts in the task areas were otherwise not significantly higher than background. Additional data is needed to support further statistical analysis and determine trends; however, this initial investigation suggests that nanoparticles used or generated by the wafer polishing process become aerosolized and may be accessible for inhalation exposures by workers performing tasks in the subfab and fab. Additional research is needed to further quantify the degree of exposure and link these findings to related hazard research. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Aluminum Compounds Aluminum Oxide Environmental Monitoring Metals Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety Semiconductors Silicon Dioxide Spectrum Analysis Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Aerosol Particles Air Sampling Air Sampling Techniques Alumina Aluminum Oxide Analytical Instruments Analytical Processes Author Keywords: Chemical Mechanical Planarization Breathing Zone Cerium Oxides Dispersion Electron Microscopy Engineered Nanomaterials Exposure Assessment Industrial Processes Inhalation Mechanical Cleaning Metal-oxides Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Morphology Nanomaterials Nanotechnology Occupational Exposure Occupational Exposure Assessment Particle Counters Semiconductor Fabrication Semiconductor Manufacturing Silica Silicon Dioxide Spectrographic Analysis Work Areas

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• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  13
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20047946
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2016 Sep; 13(9):D138-D147
• Contact Point Address:
  Sara A. Brenner, MD, MPH, State University of New York (SUNY) Polytechnic Institute, College of Nanoscale Science, Nanobioscience Constellation, 257 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203 United States
• Email:
  sbrenner@sunypoly.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Alumina (CAS RN 1344-28-1) ; Ceria (CAS RN 1306-38-3) ; Silica (CAS RN 7631-86-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  State University of New York at Albany
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20120901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• End Date:
  20150828
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:32c799836454c7b281518a84c1499a2a912b287d36b7359af08a2d66e56c74c885ba4cb8a4065afcfc9454c16d4ba446dc904b8ee45221e979761199d4e6d0df
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/202871/cdc_202871_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 790.92 KB ]