Nanoparticle usage and protection measures in the manufacturing industry : a representative survey

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Ressource 1Download: BIB_3A09102817F4.P001.pdf (560.95 [Ko])
State: Public
Version: Author's accepted manuscript
Serval ID
serval:BIB_3A09102817F4
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Nanoparticle usage and protection measures in the manufacturing industry : a representative survey
Journal
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
Author(s)
Schmid Kaspar, Danuser Brigitta, Riediker Michael
ISSN
1545-9624
Publication state
Published
Issued date
04/2010
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
7
Number
4
Pages
224-232
Language
english
Abstract
Addressing the risks of nanoparticles requires knowledge about release into the environment and occupational exposure. However, such information currently is not systematically collected; therefore, this risk assessment lacks quantitative data. The goal was to evaluate the current level of nanoparticle usage in Swiss industry as well as health, safety, and environmental measures, and the number of potentially exposed workers. A representative, stratified mail survey was conducted among 1626 clients of the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA), which insures 80,000 manufacturing firms, representing 84% of all Swiss manufacturing companies (947 companies answered the survey for a 58.3% response rate). The extrapolation to all Swiss manufacturing companies results in 1309 workers (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1073 to 1545) potentially exposed to nanoparticles in 586 companies (95% CI: 145 to 1027). This corresponds to 0.08% of workers (95% CI: 0.06% to 0.09%) and to 0.6% of companies (95% CI: 0.2% to 1.1%). The industrial chemistry sector showed the highest percentage of companies using nanoparticles (21.2%). Other important sectors also reported nanoparticles. Personal protection equipment was the predominant protection strategy. Only a few applied specific environmental protection measures. This is the first nationwide representative study on nanoparticle use in the manufacturing sector. The information gained can be used for quantitative risk assessment. It can also help policymakers design strategies to support companies developing a safer use of nanomaterial. Notingthe current low use of nanoparticles, there is still time to proactively introduce protective methods. If the predicted "nano-revolution" comes true, now is the time to take action.
[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Journal of occupational and Environmental Hygiene for the following free supplemental resource: a pdf file containing a detailed description of the approach to statistical analyses, English translation of the questionnaire, additional information for Figure 1, and additional information for the SUVA-code.] [Authors]
Keywords
Data Collection , Environmental Monitoring , Humans , Industry , Nanoparticles , Occupational Exposure , Policy Making , Protective Devices , Risk Assessment , Workplace
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
04/01/2011 9:57
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:29
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