Exposure Assessments for a Cross-Sectional Epidemiologic Study of US Carbon Nanotube and Nanofiber Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beard JD ; Bertke S ; Birch, M. Eileen ; Dahm, Matthew M. ; Erdely A ; Evans DE ; Fernback, Joseph E. ; Grinshpun SA ; Mercer RR ; Schubauer-Berigan, Mary K.
• Description:
  Background: Recent animal studies have suggested the potential for wide-ranging health effects resulting from exposure to carbon nanotubes and nanofibers (CNT/F). To date, no studies in the US have directly examined the relationship between occupational exposure and potential human health effects. Objectives: Our goal was to measure CNT/F exposures among US workers with representative job types, from non-exposed to highly exposed, for an epidemiologic study relating exposure to early biologic effects. Methods: 108 participants were enrolled from 12 facilities across the US. Personal, full-shift exposures were assessed based on the mass of elemental carbon (EC) at the respirable and inhalable aerosol particle size fractions, along with quantitatively characterizing CNT/F and estimating particle size via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Additionally, sputum and dermal samples were collected and analyzed to determine internal exposures and exposures to the hands/wrists. Results: The mean exposure to EC was 1.00 µg/m3 at the respirable size fraction and 6.22 ug/m3 at the inhalable fraction. Analysis by TEM found a mean exposure of 0.1275 CNT/F structures/cm3, generally to agglomerated materials between 2 and 10 um. Internal exposures to CNT/F via sputum analysis were confirmed in 18% of participants while approximately 70% had positive dermal exposures. Conclusions: We demonstrated the occurrence of a broad range of exposures to CNT/F within 12 facilities across the US. Analysis of collected sputum indicated internal exposures are currently occurring within the workplace. This is an important first step in determining if exposures in the workforce have any acute or lasting health effects. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Dust Epidemiology Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Safety Skin Workplace
• Keywords:
  Aerosol Particles Aerosol Sampling Author Keywords: Nanomaterials Biological Effects Carbon Nanofibers Carbon Nanotubes CNF Dermal Exposures Elemental Carbon Employee Exposure Exposure Assessment Health Effects Humans Inhalation Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes MWCNT Nanofibers Nanomaterials Nanotechnology Nanotubes Occupational Exposure Particle Size Particle Size Analysis Respirable Dust Sampling Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes Skin Exposure Sputum Analysis SWCNT Ultrafine Particles Workers Workplace Monitoring Workplace Studies

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• ISSN:
  1438-4639
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Utah ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology ; HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  429-440
• Volume:
  221
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050940
• Citation:
  Int J Hyg Environ Health 2018 Apr; 221(3):429-440
• Contact Point Address:
  Matthew M. Dahm, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1090 Tusculum Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
• Email:
  mdahm@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon (CAS RN 7440-44-0) ; Carbon nanotubes (CAS RN 308068-56-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:349fdd0c87847b95952ccea6adef7e4076e676c197aaf3ca13c0dd7dd0b418eacd9151f4881e8cd84787ecc7bff5bffa77a5c08c6c32d5599dd5d8d8e9388098
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211117/cdc_211117_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 926.61 KB ]