Inhalation Exposure During Spray Application and Subsequent Sanding of a Wood Sealant Containing Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Details

• Personal Author:
  Burrelli LG ; Cooper MR ; Dresser D ; Griffin KN ; Lippy BE ; Perrenoud J ; Segrave AM ; West, Gavin H.
• Description:
  Nano-enabled construction products have entered into commerce. There are concerns about the safety of manufactured nanomaterials, and exposure assessments are needed for a more complete understanding of risk. This study assessed potential inhalation exposure to ZnO nanoparticles during spray application and power sanding of a commercially available wood sealant and evaluated the effectiveness of local exhaust ventilation in reducing exposure. A tradesperson performed the spraying and sanding inside an environmentally-controlled chamber. Dust control methods during sanding were compared. Filter-based sampling, electron microscopy, and real-time particle counters provided measures of exposure. Airborne nanoparticles above background levels were detected by particle counters for all exposure scenarios. Nanoparticle number concentrations and particle size distributions were similar for sanding of treated versus untreated wood. Very few unbound nanoparticles were detected in aerosol samples via electron microscopy, rather nano-sized ZnO was contained within, or on the surface of larger airborne particles. Whether the presence of nanoscale ZnO in these aerosols affects toxicity merits further investigation. Mass-based exposure measurements were below the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit for Zn, although there are no established exposure limits for nanoscale ZnO. Local exhaust ventilation was effective, reducing airborne nanoparticle number concentrations by up to 92% and reducing personal exposure to total dust by at least 80% in terms of mass. Given the discrepancies between the particle count data and electron microscopy observations, the chemical identity of the airborne nanoparticles detected by the particle counters remains uncertain. Prior studies attributed the main source of nanoparticle emissions during sanding to copper nanoparticles generated from electric sander motors. Potentially contrary results are presented suggesting the sander motor may not have been the primary source of nanoparticle emissions in this study. Further research is needed to understand potential risks faced by construction workers exposed to mixed aerosols containing manufactured nanomaterials. Until these risks are better understood, this study demonstrates that engineering controls can reduce exposure to manufactured nanomaterials; doing so may be prudent for protecting worker health. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Construction Industry Construction Materials Dust Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety Ventilation Wood
• Keywords:
  Airborne Particles Analytical Instruments Author Keywords: Construction Coating Construction Construction Industry Construction Materials Controlled Environment Dust Control Electron Microscopy Exhaust Ventilation Exposure Assessment Inhalation Inhalation Studies Local Exhaust Ventilation Manufacturing Nano-Enabled Nano-objects Nano-Objects And Their Agglomerates And Aggregates Nanomaterial Nanomaterials Nanoparticles Nanotechnology Particle Counters Risk Assessment Sampling Sealants Spraying Operations Woodworking Equipment Zinc Oxide

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• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Maryland ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  14
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049635
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2017 Jul; 14(7):510-522
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr. Bruce E. Lippy, CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training, 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
• Email:
  blippy@cpwr.com
• CAS Registry Number:
  Zinc oxide (ZnO) (CAS RN 1314-13-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Performing Organization:
  CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• End Date:
  20240831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4fae2408fb170f9f38419c8d88ff034398f88e2f84ff7d902a0bdc15c57f40b79ec2a946fe0f4e522ee9ced469511503f3be60430e7c7b4241532c790940e1a6
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210328/cdc_210328_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.71 MB ]