Health and Safety Practices in the Nanomaterials Workplace: Results from an International Survey

This article reports the findings of an international survey of nanomaterials firms and laboratories that looked at the environmental health and safety (EHS)programs of these organizations, their engineering controls, use of personal protective equiptment, how these organizations monitored exposure, their waste disposal, product stewardship, and overall belief in the potential risks of the nanomaterials they handled. While a large number of the survey respondents reported that they did not believe that the nanoparticles they used posed special risks, many reported that their organization did have nanospecific programs. These programs were usually based on general EHS programs, and many also provided product safety guidance to consumers. Overall, respondents in the study reported a need for more toxicological information and EHS guidance.