The particle release from manufactured nanomaterial (MN) in powdered form (so called “dustiness”) is an important consideration for worker exposure and the design and operation of various application processes (e.g. dosing, filling, transport, emptying bags, mixing). Research conducted into the “dustiness” of MN with relevance to occupational exposure assessment has led to different methods. All these methods involve application of a specified type and amount of mechanical energy to a specified amount of pre-conditioned powder and duration whereby airborne dust particles are generated to be quantified. Along with the increased industrial production and use of manufactured nanomaterials, a request has been launched to establish new harmonized procedures to enable dustiness testing and proper inhalation exposure assessment to MNM. This was formalized in the recent Mandate 461 between the European Commission and CEN under which PEROSH recently launched the pre-normative research program DUSTINANO.
The objective of DUSTINANO is mainly the development of a harmonized approach for evaluating dustiness for nanopowders taking into account the different existing concepts and test apparatus currently available in Europe.
The progress of this work was recently presented during the 6th International Symposium on Nanotechnology, Occupational and Environmental Health (NanOEH) held in October 29th 2013 in Nagoya (Japan).
More information: olivier.witschger@inrs.fr
