The Assessment of Different Metrics of the Concentration of Nano (Ultrafine) Particles in Existing and New Industries
Project Information
| Principal Investigator | Celia Elliot-Minty |
| Institution | Health and Safety Executive |
| Project URL | View |
| Relevance to Implications | High |
| Class of Nanomaterial | Engineered Nanomaterials |
| Impact Sector | Human Health |
| Broad Research Categories |
Exposure Characterization Risk Assessment |
| NNI identifier |
Funding Information
| Country | UK |
| Anticipated Total Funding | $195,744.00 |
| Annual Funding | $97,872.00 |
| Funding Source | HSE |
| Funding Mechanism | Intramural |
| Funding Sector | Government |
| Start Year | 2002 |
| Anticipated End Year | 2004 |
Abstract/Summary
Background Nanotechnology involves the production of very small particles (<100 nm) with specific unique surface properties that can be used in a wide range of industries. In the next few years it is likely that there will be a dramatic increase in the industrial generation and use of these nanoparticles. When this occurs, the workforces in these industries may be exposed to high levels of airborne nanoparticles and unique health outcomes associated with these particles may result, if work is not carried out at an early stage to address this problem. At present the best metric in relation to the effect of exposure to nanoparticles on health has not been determined. Whilst mass is the current metric for measuring exposure to coarse aerosol fractions, there is evidence to suggest that it may not be the right choice for nanoparticles and it may be better to measure surface area or number. This project would aim to carry out preliminary work to determine whether the surface area concentration of nanoparticles can be estimated with an acceptable level of accuracy from measurements of other metrics such as mass or number that can be more easily measured.
Objectives 1. To assess the relationships between mass, number and surface area concentrations of nanoparticles in workplaces. 2. To determine whether the surface area concentrations of nanoparticles can be estimated with an acceptable accuracy from measurements of other metrics mass and number.
