NIOSH Assesses Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes, Nanofibers

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has announced the availability of a draft document that contains a toxicological assessment of the potential health risks of occupational exposure to carbon nanotubes and nanofibers. The draft document also provides recommendations for the safe handling of these materials, which can be found in many applications, including food packaging.

NIOSH will hold a public meeting on February 3, 2011, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to explore (i) “whether the hazard identification, risk estimation, and discussion of health effects for carbon nanotubes and nanofibers are a reasonable reflection of the current understanding of the evidence in the scientific literature”; (ii) “workplaces and occupations where exposure to carbon nanotubes and nanofibers occur”; (iii) “current strategies for controlling occupational exposure to carbon nanotubes and nanofibers (e.g., engineering controls, work practices, personal protective equipment”; (iv) “current exposure measurement methods and challenges in measuring workplace exposures to carbon nanotubes and nanofibers”; and (v) “areas for future collaborative efforts (e.g., research, communication, development of exposure measurement and control strategies).” NIOSH requests comments by February 18, 2011. See Federal Register, December 23, 2010.