Particle Emissions from Laboratory Activities Involving Carbon Nanotubes

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dunn, Kevin H. ; Ellenbecker M ; Heitbrink, William A. ; Lo L-M ; Topmiller J ; Tsai CS-J
• Description:
  This site study was conducted in a chemical laboratory to evaluate nanomaterial emissions from 20-30-nm-diameter bundles of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) during product development activities. Direct-reading instruments were used to monitor the tasks in real time, and airborne particles were collected using various methods to characterize released nanomaterials using electron microscopy and elemental carbon (EC) analyses. CNT clusters and a few high-aspect-ratio particles were identified as being released from some activities. The EC concentration (0.87 ug/m3) at the source of probe sonication was found to be higher than other activities including weighing, mixing, centrifugation, coating, and cutting. Various sampling methods all indicated different levels of CNTs from the activities; however, the sonication process was found to release the highest amounts of CNTs. It can be cautiously concluded that the task of probe sonication possibly released nanomaterials into the laboratory and posed a risk of surface contamination. Based on these results, the sonication of CNT suspension should be covered or conducted inside a ventilated enclosure with proper filtration or a glovebox to minimize the potential of exposure. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Engineering Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Airborne Particles Author Keywords: Engineering Controls Carbon Nanotubes CNTs Contaminant Characterization Direct-reading Methods Electron Microscopy Elemental Carbon Emission Sources Environmental And Health Issues Laboratory Safety Monitors Nanomaterial Manufacturing Nanotechnology Sampling Methods

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• ISSN:
  1388-0764
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Massachusetts ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  19
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050311
• Citation:
  J Nanopart Res 2017 Aug; 19(8):293
• Contact Point Address:
  Candace S.-J. Tsai, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
• Email:
  Tsai@colostate.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Nanoparticle Research
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:40ae5ad5fdee1602a62e5bed79b3cff980895f394b439710875c797b5d94a7cff537361d714c0696b2d2887e3f918231f79bd1d4aef6f317b6b0b95fc652bda1
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210717/cdc_210717_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.81 MB ]