Details:

Personal Author:
Schulte, Paul S. ; Trout, Douglas ; Zumwalde, Ralph D.
Schulte, Paul S. ; Trout, Douglas ; Zumwalde, Ralph D. Less -
Corporate Authors:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ; Nanotechnology Research Center (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ; Nanotechnology Research Center (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Less -
Description:
Concerns have been raised about whether workers exposed to engineered nanoparticles are at increased risk of adverse health effects. The current body of evidence about the possible health risks of occupational exposure to engineered nanoparticles is quite small. While there is increasing evidence to indicate that exposure to some engineered nanoparticles can cause adverse health effects in laboratory animals, no health studies of workers exposed to the few engineered nanoparticles tested in animals have been published. The purpose of this document from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is to provide interim guidance about whether specific medical screening, including performing medical tests on asymptomatic workers, is appropriate for these workers. Medical screening is only one part of what should be considered a complete safety and health management program. An ideal safety and health management program follows a hierarchy of controls and involves various occupational health surveillance measures. Since specific medical screening of asymptomatic workers exposed to engineered nanoparticles has not been extensively discussed in the scientific literature, this document makes recommendations based upon what is known until more rigorous research can be performed. Currently there is insufficient scientific and medical evidence to recommend the specific medical screening of workers potentially exposed to engineered nanoparticles. Nonetheless, this lack of evidence does not preclude specific medical screening by employers interested in taking precautions beyond existing industrial hygiene measures. If nanoparticles are composed of a chemical or bulk material for which medical screening recommendations exist, these same screening recommendations would be applicable for workers exposed to engineered nanoparticles as well. As research into the hazards of engineered nanoparticles continues, vigilant reassessment of available data is critical to determine whether specific medical screening is warranted for workers. In the interim, the following recommendations are provided for workplaces where workers may be exposed to engineered nanoparticles in the course of their work: 1. Take prudent measures to control exposures to engineered nanoparticles. 2. Conduct hazard surveillance as the basis for implementing controls. 3. Continue use of established medical surveillance approaches. NIOSH will continue to collect and evaluate new research findings and update its recommendations about medical screening programs for workers exposed to nanoparticles. NIOSH will also continue to consider the strengths and weaknesses of establishing exposure registries for workers potentially exposed to engineered nanoparticles for future health surveillance and epidemiological studies.

NIOSHTIC No 20090201


Content Notes:
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

"This Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) was developed by the staff of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) who participate in the NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC). Special thanks go to Paul S. Schulte, Director, Education and Information Division, NIOSH and manager of the NTRC, Douglas Trout, and Ralph D. Zumwalde for writing and organizing the report. The NIOSH NTRC also acknowledges the contributions of Vanessa Becks and Gino Fazio for desktop publishing and graphic design, and Douglas Platt for editing the document."--p. viii

Based upon discussions at a workshop on occupational health surveillance and nanotechnology workers held April 17-18, 2007, Arlington, VA.

"CDC workplace safety & health"--Cover.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 8-12).

NIOSH

8/24/2015


Subjects:
[+]
Environmental Monitoring/adverse Effects Nanoparticles Nanotechnology Occupational Exposure/prevention & Control Population Surveillance Safety Management
Series:
NIOSH current intelligence bulletin ; 60 ; DHHS publication ; no. (NIOSH) 2009-116
NIOSH current intelligence bulletin ; 60 ; DHHS publication ; no. (NIOSH) 2009-116 Less -
Document Type:
Report
Genre:
Guidance
Collection(s):
Guidelines and Recommendations Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:ae64b32f5247e06641067e7830dabcd0d653476addde294be40e119e10e9f537
Download URL:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/5202/cdc_5202_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• No Additional Files

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