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According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) nanomaterials are: “Engineered nanoscale materials or nanomaterials are materials that have been purposefully manufactured, synthesized, or manipulated to have a size with at least one dimension in the range of approximately 1 to 100 nanometers and that exhibit unique properties determined by their size.” Nanomaterials with all three dimensions under 100 nm are referred to as nanoparticles. Even though DNA and RNA can fulfill the definition of nanomaterial they are generally not considered nanomaterials.
The purposeful creation of engineered nano-materials is a relatively recent discovered technology. The ability to create very small scaled structures (<100 nanometers) has brought forward the increased ability to perform tasks much more efficiently due to nano-materials increased surface area compared to the same bulk material. Some of the physical and chemical properties that may be effected by this change include;
Obviously if the above stated properties of a material can be transformed, so too can its hazard profile! This new technology and altered properties can also bring with it other less desirable biological interactions as well. Some of these hazards are still unknown and are currently being investigated. Therefore extreme care should be afforded while dealing with nanomaterials until their hazard profile is fully understood.
Know what PPE will protect you – your life may very well depend on it!
Know how to clean up a nanomaterial spill before working with it.
Use HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters for any equipment used for work with nanomaterials e.g. Biosafety cabinets, respiratory cartridges, vacuum cleaners, etc.
Keep agitation and/or movement of nanomaterials to a minimum to prevent the creation of airborne particles. Some nanomaterials can stay suspended in the air for days!
Always thoroughly clean up equipment and work area when finished working with nanomaterials to prevent chemical exposures from accidental contact.
Work with nanomaterials as much as possible in a glove box, chemical fume hood, biosafety cabinet or ventilated enclosure. Glove boxes and chemical fume hoods are preferred!
Due to the hazards associated with nanomaterials, consider using less hazardous forms when possible rather than dry solids which have a higher risk for exposure. Examples:
Nanomaterials suspended in a gel.
Nanomaterials bound or fixed to a solid substrate.
Nanomaterials suspended in a colloidal solution.
Nanomaterials wetted in a slurry.
Do these procedures require prior approval (i.e. PI approval) before work begins?
Is this document guideline alone sufficient or are other reference materials required? e.g. equipment manuals, reading background information, etc.
Have you done a thorough risk assessment before working with this type of material?
Any special tips, tricks, advice or comments to add? If so, then edit this document and add it.
Do these guidelines apply to all of the PIʼs laboratories or specific ones?
Is there any prerequisite training before work is to begin with this type of material? e.g. basic compressed gas work, operating equipment or instruments, etc.
Any special First Aid issues while working with these types of materials?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) nanomaterials are: “Engineered nanoscale materials or nanomaterials are materials that have been purposefully manufactured, synthesized, or manipulated to have a size with at least one dimension in the range of approximately 1 to 100 nanometers and that exhibit unique properties determined by their size.” Nanomaterials with all three dimensions under 100 nm are referred to as nanoparticles. Even though DNA and RNA can fulfill the definition of nanomaterial they are generally not considered nanomaterials.
Be sure all equipment being utilized is compatible with the nanomaterials being used.
Use HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters for any equipment used for work with nanomaterials e.g. Biosafety cabinets, respiratory cartridges, vacuum cleaners, etc.
De-clutter and remove from work area any incompatible material that is not necessary.
Inexperienced users of nanomaterials must be supervised while performing experiment.
Utilize appropriate volume (not to exceed maximum volume) containers for most transfers of nanomaterials. Ideally only utilize 50% of a containers capacity.
Always thoroughly cleanup equipment and work area when finished to prevent chemical exposures from accidental contact with nanomaterials. Use wet cleanup methods and not dry sweeping.
Always perform manipulations of nanomaterials in an environment with little or no air currents. These air currents can make the handling of these materials difficult and dangerous to your health by creating airborne particles.
When handling nanomaterials try to keep unnecessary agitation to a minimum. Even the agitation of solutions (stirring, sonicating, etc) has been reported to create airborne particles.
Transfer nanomaterial samples between workstations (i.e. from glove box to fume hood, from furnace to glove box, etc) in sealed, unbreakable, and labelled containers. Utilize anti-static ionizers, instruments, and/or electrostatic
Whenever possible utilize simple and disposable equipment to reduce airborne dispersions of nanomaterials such as tacky-mats and antistatic paper. Also try using nanomaterials in different forms such as bound in a polymer or dispersed in a liquid suspension. These methods help to reduce airborne dispersions of nanomaterials.
In laboratoryʼs that work with nanomaterials it is a good practice to post signs, “nanomaterials present-use special precautions”.
