Interim guidance for the medical screening of workers potentially exposed to engineered nanoparticle

This document provides interim guidance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health concerning whether specific medical screening (medical tests for asymptomatic workers) is appropriate for these workers. Because the current body of evidence about the possible health risks of occupational exposure to engineered nanoparticles is very limited, NIOSH dos not currently recommend the specific medical screening of workers potentially exposed to engineered nanoparticles. However, this document offers guidance for employers who want to go beyond any medical surveillance already occurring as part of existing occupational health surveillance. NIOSH recommends the following steps for all workplaces where workers may be exposed to engineered particles. Take prudent measures to control workers' exposure to nanoparticles, conduct hazard surveillance as the basis for implementing controls, and consider established medical surveillance approaches to help assess whether control measures are effective and to identify new or unrecognized problems and health effects.