Periodic Report Summary 1 - SANOWORK (Safe Nano Worker Exposure Scenarios)
Project Context and Objectives:
Background
Strong proponents of nanotechnology, such as Lux Research, anticipate that “nanotechnology applications will affect nearly every type of manufactured good over the next ten years.” Nevertheless the promise by nanotechnology of a significant contribution in boosting the economy, living standards and improving the quality of life may be outweighed by the perceived occupational, environmental health and safety risks that it poses. Due to the lack of quantitative risk assessment, underwriting such risk is particularly difficult and may compel the underwriter community to refuse to insure nanotechnology industry in the fear of potential bankruptcy. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are in the driving seat of nanotechnology innovation, are particularly vulnerable to such conditions as they lack resources to put expensive preventive measures in place to safeguard their workers’ health and safety.
The engineering of NMs to be safe by design represents one of the SANOWORK innovative and breakthrough tool towards the development of strategies useful for a sustainable development and use of nanotechnology. The identified “key concepts” under which the SANOWORK project has been built are:
• Industrial driven strategies applied to target processing lines for safer nanotechnology.
• Product design options as risk management control measure.
• Decreased emission potential and/or human hazard, preserving the nano-scale properties.
• Practical risk assessment of NMs with a reasonable balance between health hazards and exposure data,
It is so clear why the evaluation of proposed risk remediation strategies should necessary pass through their integration within industrial processing lines and their evaluation in terms of COST (introduction of process extra-steps, preservation of product and process efficiency) and BENEFIT (decrease hazard or exposure potential).
Objectives
The main goal of Sanowork project is that to develop and identify a safe occupational exposure scenario. To do it, several objectives are addressed:
1) Promoting, developing and implementing “DESIGN OPTION BASED” risk remediation strategies.
2) Integrating such strategies within MANUFACTURING PROCESSING LINES.
3) Implementing EXPOSURE assessment methodologies in the WORKPLACES.
4) Performing a RISK analysis BEFORE and AFTER the application of the proposed strategies.
5) Analyzing COST / BENEFIT on the basis of the risk analysis results and nanomaterials (NMs) performance.
Technical approach and work description
Five risk remediation strategies based on NMs surface engineering have been developed. The proposed approach to engineer NMs surface and prevent their potential risk is mainly based on inorganic/organic surface coating or controlled aggregation techniques. The developed strategies are versatile, practical, cost-effective and easily up-scalable playing with mechanism and kinetics of self-assembling, well known to colloidal science. Five target NMs: ZrO2, polyamide, TiO2, Ag, C, corresponding to three different nanostructured (nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanotubes) have been considered. The strategies have been integrated within six processing lines identified with different industrially relevant sectors and applications.
The overall work plan is designed for 36 operational months and comprises 4 technical Work Packages (WP2-6), beside project management and dissemination/exploitation of results (WP1, WP8 and WP7). WP1 and WP8 are the Administrative and Scientific management workpackages, respectively. WP2 is related to the assessment and analysis of the risks caused by the occupational exposure to SANOWORK target NMs, in different stages of manufacturing life cycle and to the cost/benefit analysis of the proposed strategies, as well. The essential information on NMs characteristics, exposure potential and toxicity to be used for the risk assessment are included from literature sources as well as from data generated in the project by WP3 and WP5 worker exposure and toxicological hazard characterization, respectively. WP4 develops “Design Options” based Risk Remediation Strategies and evaluates NMs functional properties and their performances in relation to specific steps of the process. Six companies involved in the project develop industrial demonstration platforms to prove the integration of proposed risk control extra steps in different pilot lines (WP6), and make the industrial scenarios available for exposure assessment on-site. In WP7 the results and other outputs of the project are disseminated internally and externally, after appropriate intellectual property protections, as and when needed. The results of RISK and COST/BENEFIT analysis is disseminated and used to inform the industrial partners about the strategies to implement in their processes, in order to create a safer workplace environment.
Project Results:
Results over the period
During the kick-off meeting (D8.1) it was possible to revise critically the DoW. Following Project Officer indication, it was agreed to assess exposure and toxicological assessment with a practical re-iteration approach addressed to select methods and materials and achieve fast conclusions, easily exploitable by Companies.
A general description of the NMs during manufacturing process (D2.1) let to identify the different stages of target Processing Lines (NP production, processing, disposal and/ or recycling) collecting information in the possession of the users or available in literature.
The Strategy and Methods for Exposure Characterization (Offline Characterizations and On-site Measurements, MS1) and the Handbook of Toxicological Characterization (MS2), the last including the Iterative Testing Strategy proposed to assess the interactions of NM with biological systems, were presented.
Pristine commercial samples were collected, classified, and modified, following a safety by design approach, base on materials surface engineering (Risk Remediation Strategies). Modified nanomaterials coming from different application fields and spread over six different processing lines, were produced and provided to the partners for physicochemical, biological and exposure off-line tests characterization (MS3).
An integrative approach was used based on an assessment of safety data sheets accompanying provided nanomaterials for their relevance, quality of information and suitability in assessing hazard in the absence of toxicological testing (D5.1). This critical evaluation provided insight into the level of information commonly provided to industrial users of these materials. A specialist evaluation of the literature let to identify structural indicators of toxicity for nanoparticles which were combined in a simple format (with full scientific reasoning and justification) that could be used to screen nanoparticles against for signs of potential hazard. An alternative approach to hazard identification was so proposed, and a physico-chemical indicator of hazard, as part of a screening strategy, proposed.
A qualitative worker exposure methodology was developed and applied (D3.1). Basic measurement campaigns were performed within five industrial settings (Leitat, Colorobbia, Elmarco, Gea-Niro, Plasmachem) outlining the exposure scenarios and ranking them according to the criticality of the exposure. Exposure off-line tests (emission and abrasion) were carried out. The dustiness of some pristine nanopowders was compared with that of modified counterparts, proving the efficiency of proposed risk remediation strategy to decrease nanoaereosolization. Abrasion tests able to characterize the potential of emissivity of the nanofibres which might be released under the effect of some usage solicitations like handling cutting, drilling, were developed. Basing on the results of basic measurement campaigns and exposure tests offline, valuable information on the presence of NPs in the workplace were collected providing a qualitative ranking of the identified exposure scenarios.
A control banding approach to risk assessment was applied, providing data useful for a comparison between existing and proposed risk remediation strategies (D3.2).
Six processing lines have been implemented at pilot-scale level and let available for exposure measurements and process efficiency evaluation by five industrial companies (PLASMACHEM, GEA-NIRO, ELMARCO, BAYER, COLOROBBIA) and one private research centre (LEITAT). In addition, ISTEC let available some lab-scale facilities in order to mimic parts of the industrial process (D6.1). The processing line steps were reproduced BEFORE and AFTER the introduction of risk remediation strategies in accord with MS5.
The development and integration of five Risk Remediation Strategies (RRS), based on nanomaterials inorganic/organic coating, micronization, immobilization, size control and purification was reported (D4.1). A full physicochemical characterization supported the process of surface engineering and the identification of structural changes between pristine and modified samples.
A rationale for risk remediation strategies evaluation, based on risk analysis off-line results, was developed and applied to the project. The results of risk analysis off-line (health hazard and/or off-line exposure analysis) were crossed with data of processes/products performances assessment, in order to verify if the main functions of nanomaterials had changed and consequently, they could be used for the purpose for which they were manufactured, opening the way for a proper cost-benefit evaluation (MS4).
Potential Impact:
Expected impacts
The project strongly impacts on health through an expected reduction of worker and consumer illness by the development of practical, safe and cost-effective strategies, on economy by providing instruments for insure nanotechnology and on EU nanosafety cluster goals and agenda, considering that Safety by Design approach is an innovative and challenging goal shared by EU and USA nanosafety community (Strategic Research Agenda: Nanosafety in Europe 2015-2025, Prevention through Design National initiative, NIOSH, USA).
List of Websites:
www.sanowork.eu
Background
Strong proponents of nanotechnology, such as Lux Research, anticipate that “nanotechnology applications will affect nearly every type of manufactured good over the next ten years.” Nevertheless the promise by nanotechnology of a significant contribution in boosting the economy, living standards and improving the quality of life may be outweighed by the perceived occupational, environmental health and safety risks that it poses. Due to the lack of quantitative risk assessment, underwriting such risk is particularly difficult and may compel the underwriter community to refuse to insure nanotechnology industry in the fear of potential bankruptcy. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are in the driving seat of nanotechnology innovation, are particularly vulnerable to such conditions as they lack resources to put expensive preventive measures in place to safeguard their workers’ health and safety.
The engineering of NMs to be safe by design represents one of the SANOWORK innovative and breakthrough tool towards the development of strategies useful for a sustainable development and use of nanotechnology. The identified “key concepts” under which the SANOWORK project has been built are:
• Industrial driven strategies applied to target processing lines for safer nanotechnology.
• Product design options as risk management control measure.
• Decreased emission potential and/or human hazard, preserving the nano-scale properties.
• Practical risk assessment of NMs with a reasonable balance between health hazards and exposure data,
It is so clear why the evaluation of proposed risk remediation strategies should necessary pass through their integration within industrial processing lines and their evaluation in terms of COST (introduction of process extra-steps, preservation of product and process efficiency) and BENEFIT (decrease hazard or exposure potential).
Objectives
The main goal of Sanowork project is that to develop and identify a safe occupational exposure scenario. To do it, several objectives are addressed:
1) Promoting, developing and implementing “DESIGN OPTION BASED” risk remediation strategies.
2) Integrating such strategies within MANUFACTURING PROCESSING LINES.
3) Implementing EXPOSURE assessment methodologies in the WORKPLACES.
4) Performing a RISK analysis BEFORE and AFTER the application of the proposed strategies.
5) Analyzing COST / BENEFIT on the basis of the risk analysis results and nanomaterials (NMs) performance.
Technical approach and work description
Five risk remediation strategies based on NMs surface engineering have been developed. The proposed approach to engineer NMs surface and prevent their potential risk is mainly based on inorganic/organic surface coating or controlled aggregation techniques. The developed strategies are versatile, practical, cost-effective and easily up-scalable playing with mechanism and kinetics of self-assembling, well known to colloidal science. Five target NMs: ZrO2, polyamide, TiO2, Ag, C, corresponding to three different nanostructured (nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanotubes) have been considered. The strategies have been integrated within six processing lines identified with different industrially relevant sectors and applications.
The overall work plan is designed for 36 operational months and comprises 4 technical Work Packages (WP2-6), beside project management and dissemination/exploitation of results (WP1, WP8 and WP7). WP1 and WP8 are the Administrative and Scientific management workpackages, respectively. WP2 is related to the assessment and analysis of the risks caused by the occupational exposure to SANOWORK target NMs, in different stages of manufacturing life cycle and to the cost/benefit analysis of the proposed strategies, as well. The essential information on NMs characteristics, exposure potential and toxicity to be used for the risk assessment are included from literature sources as well as from data generated in the project by WP3 and WP5 worker exposure and toxicological hazard characterization, respectively. WP4 develops “Design Options” based Risk Remediation Strategies and evaluates NMs functional properties and their performances in relation to specific steps of the process. Six companies involved in the project develop industrial demonstration platforms to prove the integration of proposed risk control extra steps in different pilot lines (WP6), and make the industrial scenarios available for exposure assessment on-site. In WP7 the results and other outputs of the project are disseminated internally and externally, after appropriate intellectual property protections, as and when needed. The results of RISK and COST/BENEFIT analysis is disseminated and used to inform the industrial partners about the strategies to implement in their processes, in order to create a safer workplace environment.
Project Results:
Results over the period
During the kick-off meeting (D8.1) it was possible to revise critically the DoW. Following Project Officer indication, it was agreed to assess exposure and toxicological assessment with a practical re-iteration approach addressed to select methods and materials and achieve fast conclusions, easily exploitable by Companies.
A general description of the NMs during manufacturing process (D2.1) let to identify the different stages of target Processing Lines (NP production, processing, disposal and/ or recycling) collecting information in the possession of the users or available in literature.
The Strategy and Methods for Exposure Characterization (Offline Characterizations and On-site Measurements, MS1) and the Handbook of Toxicological Characterization (MS2), the last including the Iterative Testing Strategy proposed to assess the interactions of NM with biological systems, were presented.
Pristine commercial samples were collected, classified, and modified, following a safety by design approach, base on materials surface engineering (Risk Remediation Strategies). Modified nanomaterials coming from different application fields and spread over six different processing lines, were produced and provided to the partners for physicochemical, biological and exposure off-line tests characterization (MS3).
An integrative approach was used based on an assessment of safety data sheets accompanying provided nanomaterials for their relevance, quality of information and suitability in assessing hazard in the absence of toxicological testing (D5.1). This critical evaluation provided insight into the level of information commonly provided to industrial users of these materials. A specialist evaluation of the literature let to identify structural indicators of toxicity for nanoparticles which were combined in a simple format (with full scientific reasoning and justification) that could be used to screen nanoparticles against for signs of potential hazard. An alternative approach to hazard identification was so proposed, and a physico-chemical indicator of hazard, as part of a screening strategy, proposed.
A qualitative worker exposure methodology was developed and applied (D3.1). Basic measurement campaigns were performed within five industrial settings (Leitat, Colorobbia, Elmarco, Gea-Niro, Plasmachem) outlining the exposure scenarios and ranking them according to the criticality of the exposure. Exposure off-line tests (emission and abrasion) were carried out. The dustiness of some pristine nanopowders was compared with that of modified counterparts, proving the efficiency of proposed risk remediation strategy to decrease nanoaereosolization. Abrasion tests able to characterize the potential of emissivity of the nanofibres which might be released under the effect of some usage solicitations like handling cutting, drilling, were developed. Basing on the results of basic measurement campaigns and exposure tests offline, valuable information on the presence of NPs in the workplace were collected providing a qualitative ranking of the identified exposure scenarios.
A control banding approach to risk assessment was applied, providing data useful for a comparison between existing and proposed risk remediation strategies (D3.2).
Six processing lines have been implemented at pilot-scale level and let available for exposure measurements and process efficiency evaluation by five industrial companies (PLASMACHEM, GEA-NIRO, ELMARCO, BAYER, COLOROBBIA) and one private research centre (LEITAT). In addition, ISTEC let available some lab-scale facilities in order to mimic parts of the industrial process (D6.1). The processing line steps were reproduced BEFORE and AFTER the introduction of risk remediation strategies in accord with MS5.
The development and integration of five Risk Remediation Strategies (RRS), based on nanomaterials inorganic/organic coating, micronization, immobilization, size control and purification was reported (D4.1). A full physicochemical characterization supported the process of surface engineering and the identification of structural changes between pristine and modified samples.
A rationale for risk remediation strategies evaluation, based on risk analysis off-line results, was developed and applied to the project. The results of risk analysis off-line (health hazard and/or off-line exposure analysis) were crossed with data of processes/products performances assessment, in order to verify if the main functions of nanomaterials had changed and consequently, they could be used for the purpose for which they were manufactured, opening the way for a proper cost-benefit evaluation (MS4).
Potential Impact:
Expected impacts
The project strongly impacts on health through an expected reduction of worker and consumer illness by the development of practical, safe and cost-effective strategies, on economy by providing instruments for insure nanotechnology and on EU nanosafety cluster goals and agenda, considering that Safety by Design approach is an innovative and challenging goal shared by EU and USA nanosafety community (Strategic Research Agenda: Nanosafety in Europe 2015-2025, Prevention through Design National initiative, NIOSH, USA).
List of Websites:
www.sanowork.eu