Posted: May 22nd, 2012 Swedish Work Environment Authority releases report on carbonnanotubes ( Nanowerk News ) A new report – Carbon nanotubes: Exposure, toxicology and protective measures inthe work environment (pdf) – has been written on behalf of the Swedish WorkEnvironment Authority (Arbetsmilj erket) by researchers working atLund University in research collaborations between Metalund andNano-Safety. This summary overview of current knowledge is a compilation ofliterature in the field of carbon nanotubes and deals withoccupational exposure, toxicology and protective measures used inthe work environment. Issues which in accordance with theassignment were to be investigated included - what the exposuresituation was like during production, processing and handling ofproducts containing carbon nanotubes. A compilation of advice and guidelines on safety and protectiondevices and personal protective equipment is also presented. Thetoxicological data available for carbon nanotubes has also beensummarized. The purpose of the overview is to provideArbetsmilj erket with information and support for different typesof measures. The overview may also provide support if specialhygienic limit values within the area or other regulations arebeing considered. The report is based on original work and summary reviews identifiedin scientific databases based on systematic literature searches.For the section that deals with toxicology, a selection of relevantarticles has been included. The remaining findings will be detailedin a document currently being presented to the Nordic Expert Group(NEG) for the production of criteria documents on chemical healthrisks. The report was written by PhD Per Gustavsson, the Department ofBiology, University of Lund, PhD Maria Hedmer, Division ofOccupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University and PhDJenny Rissler, Department of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology,Lund University. A reference group of experts has been attached to this assignmentand is made up of the following people: Associate Professor MariaAlbin, the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine,Lund University; Professor Mats Bohgard, The Department ofErgonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University; ProfessorMartin Kanje, the Department of Biology, Lund University; andProfessor Steffen Loft, Institut for Folkesundhedsvidenskab,University of Copenhagen. Background The use of carbon nanotubes has increased substantially in recentyears, and is expected to continue to increase strongly in thefuture. Increased production, handling and machining increase therisk of exposure in different work environments. Today, theproduction of carbon nanotubes takes place mainly in non-Nordiccountries, but carbon nanotubes are used in the Nordic countries inresearch and development work. Carbon nanotubes are used mainly asa reinforcement material in various types of polymers, i.e. incomposites, but there is considerable potential for use with otherapplications. More recently people have become increasingly aware that theproperties of nanoparticles may be substantially different thanthose of larger particles of the same material, parallels have alsobeen drawn between the fibre-like shape of carbon nanotubes andasbestos. It is therefore necessary to study the toxicity of carbon nanotubesto assess the risks associated with their handling and, ifnecessary, implement regulations, in the form of occupationalexposure limits. In this report, we have taken into account exposure via ingestion,inhalation and the skin. Inhalation appears to be the route ofexposure that is associated with the greatest potential risk, sincea carbon nanotube is a material which, in bulk form, has a very lowdensity and produces a lot of dust during handling. Measurementsalso show that the highest occupational exposure takes placeprecisely when handling dry bulk material of carbon nanotubes. Conclusions An important issue for handling carbon nanotubes concerns theirclassification. Should they be classified as a separate substanceor as carbon which is the main substance in the tubes, and shouldin that case, all tubes be classified as a substance or as singleor multi-walled carbon nanotubes, with their respectivefunctionalizations and be risk-assessed accordingly. Researchindicates that the toxic properties of carbon nanotubes may bedifferent from other types of nanoparticles that are made up oflayers of graphene. It would suggest that carbon nanotubes shouldhave a specific classification. The risk assessment for carbon nanotubes is made more difficult bya lack of knowledge at several levels: 1) Consensus is lacking asto which dose-metric that is most relevant for health effects; 2)Carbon nanotubes can be found in a large number of variants thatare likely to have different levels of toxicity; 3) Thetoxicological data is inadequate but indicates that there is a riskof inflammatory reaction and pulmonary fibrosis when inhaled atrelatively low doses; there is also the risk of producing aDNA-damaging effect; 4) Exposure levels for the commercial handlingof carbon nanotubes are incompletely characterized. While waiting for the level of understanding to become clear, astrategy for the regulation of occupational exposure-relatedconditions may be to take note of the effects observed for the mosttoxic of carbon nanotubes. The proposed international occupationalexposure limits are at very low levels. Airborne exposure arisesfrom the manufacture, handling, and use of carbon nanotubes and inthe machining of products containing carbon nanotubes. Establishedtechnical protective measures such as encapsulation and processventilation should be applied in conjunction with personalprotective equipment such as respiratory protective equipment,protective gloves and protective clothing. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Full Body Porcelain Tile Manufacturer , Washdown Two Piece Toilet Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Polished Ceramic Tile today!
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