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2.5 Risk Assessment
It is obvious that many industries employ products based on nanotechnology in
order to derive substantial benefit from it. As we already mentioned above, there are
many benefits of nanotechnology. The number of nanotechnology-based products
in industry has been significantly increasing. Thus, special care should be taken
before these products are put on the market. So far, we have ignored the other side
of coin. As nanotechnology advances, the concerns about the safety of the nanotechnology increase. There is much debate whether products of the nanotechnology
pose health and environmental risks. Their small sizes and novel properties may
pose significant risks to the health and environment.
Nanomaterials and their products are rapidly increasing and both human and
environment are exposed to nanoparticles during manufacturing, use, and disposal
of products. Thus, the exposure to nanoparticle becomes more possible. The amount
of exposure can vary depending on different groups such as men, women, and workers in production, transportation, or disposal stages. To have an idea how the risk of
exposure to nanoparticles is prominent, it is helpful to give some examples. Below
are given some lethal incidents due to exposure.
One of the significant incidents occurred in 2006 in Germany. About 100 consumers experienced severe breathing problems after using Nano Magic, a protective
glass and bathroom sealant (Glaza 2010). The manufacturer had added nanoparticles to their product (Pescovitz 2006). The content of product was not provided or
explained. The Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) confirmed the absence of
nanoparticles in the product (Elvin 2006). Later, it is claimed that the observed
effects arose from tiny droplets of aerosol liquid spray which facilitate the penetration of solvent to the lungs.
Another significant incident that occurred in 2008 in a Chinese print plant
resulted in seven young women having shortness of breath and excess liquid in the
lungs and eventually two of them were dead. Several tests were performed on the
women. Results obtained by transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of nanoparticles in cytoplasm and caryoplasm of pulmonary epithelial and
mesothelial cells. Also, particles of about 30 nm diameter were found in the fluid
surrounding the patient’s lungs and it was reported that similar-sized nanoparticle
were present in polyacrylic ester paste, used in the print plate, and in workplace
ventilation system (Song et al. 2009). Since the data of the study were limited, it is
difficult to make general conclusions (Maynard 2009). Nevertheless, appropriate
workplace conditions should be implemented in order to avoid preventable incidents (Brain et al. 2010).
It is obvious that appropriate control and risk management methodologies can
provide protection of workers against exposure of engineered nanomaterials. The
issue of implementation of a proper method becomes extremely unforeseeable due
to lack of data in the nanomaterial area. However, some measures can be taken in
order to minimize exposure to nanomaterials. This can be achieved using a properly
designed enclosure or containment, effective ventilation and filtration system. The
S. Tekmen and S. Öksüz
2.5 Risk Assessment
It is obvious that many industries employ products based on nanotechnology in
order to derive substantial benefit from it. As we already mentioned above, there are
many benefits of nanotechnology. The number of nanotechnology-based products
in industry has been significantly increasing. Thus, special care should be taken
before these products are put on the market. So far, we have ignored the other side
of coin. As nanotechnology advances, the concerns about the safety of the nanotechnology increase. There is much debate whether products of the nanotechnology
pose health and environmental risks. Their small sizes and novel properties may
pose significant risks to the health and environment.
Nanomaterials and their products are rapidly increasing and both human and
environment are exposed to nanoparticles during manufacturing, use, and disposal
of products. Thus, the exposure to nanoparticle becomes more possible. The amount
of exposure can vary depending on different groups such as men, women, and workers in production, transportation, or disposal stages. To have an idea how the risk of
exposure to nanoparticles is prominent, it is helpful to give some examples. Below
are given some lethal incidents due to exposure.
One of the significant incidents occurred in 2006 in Germany. About 100 consumers experienced severe breathing problems after using Nano Magic, a protective
glass and bathroom sealant (Glaza 2010). The manufacturer had added nanoparticles to their product (Pescovitz 2006). The content of product was not provided or
explained. The Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) confirmed the absence of
nanoparticles in the product (Elvin 2006). Later, it is claimed that the observed
effects arose from tiny droplets of aerosol liquid spray which facilitate the penetration of solvent to the lungs.
Another significant incident that occurred in 2008 in a Chinese print plant
resulted in seven young women having shortness of breath and excess liquid in the
lungs and eventually two of them were dead. Several tests were performed on the
women. Results obtained by transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of nanoparticles in cytoplasm and caryoplasm of pulmonary epithelial and
mesothelial cells. Also, particles of about 30 nm diameter were found in the fluid
surrounding the patient’s lungs and it was reported that similar-sized nanoparticle
were present in polyacrylic ester paste, used in the print plate, and in workplace
ventilation system (Song et al. 2009). Since the data of the study were limited, it is
difficult to make general conclusions (Maynard 2009). Nevertheless, appropriate
workplace conditions should be implemented in order to avoid preventable incidents (Brain et al. 2010).
It is obvious that appropriate control and risk management methodologies can
provide protection of workers against exposure of engineered nanomaterials. The
issue of implementation of a proper method becomes extremely unforeseeable due
to lack of data in the nanomaterial area. However, some measures can be taken in
order to minimize exposure to nanomaterials. This can be achieved using a properly
designed enclosure or containment, effective ventilation and filtration system. The
S. Tekmen and S. Öksüz