The small matter of nanomaterials safety

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) archives are chock-full of information dedicated to the safe handling of materials commonly used throughout the science and engineering community.

Yet although working with nanomaterials isn’t considered a ‘new science’, the guidelines which seek to govern their use are.

“In 2009 university safety practitioners realised they needed agreed guidance for those working with nanomaterials,” says David Kinnison, faculty & chemistry safety adviser at the University of Southampton.

Until 2012, researchers only had access to a range of safety guidelines from individual research establishments, he says.

Guiding the way

Therefore in 2012 the Working Safely with Nanomaterials in Research & Development guidance was published by the UK Nanosafety Partnership Group – now the UK NanoSafety Group (UKNSG). The guidelines are also endorsed by the HSE.

Kinnison, who is also co-author of the nanomaterials safety guidelines, says the UKNSG wanted to create practical guidance for laboratory researchers that was authoritative and could withstand academic scrutiny.

“We began by corralling information used in the US and Europe and we pulled together different pieces of research and information to create uniform guidance for the UK,” Kinnison says.

Kinnison says the group is now ready to launch a second edition of the guidance, having reviewed the literature and shared its initial findings.

The need for such guidance clearly suggests there is a safety concern regarding the use of nanomaterials.

Aravind Vijayaraghavan, a lecturer in nanomaterials at the University of Manchester, says safety concerns arise in part because of the size of the particles that make up nanomaterials.

“When you have particles at the nanometre scale they become comparable to, or smaller than the size of individual cells,” Vijayaraghavan says.

“Therefore, a lot of research is being conducted to understand what happens when nanoparticles are in the air – which means they can be inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with the skin,” he adds.

When we make and handle nanoparticles in the lab there is certainly a chemical risk relating to fire and explosion

Aravind Vijayaraghavan, University of Manchester nanomaterials lecturer

However, Vijayaraghavan says one of the first precautions to take when handling nanoparticles is to make sure they do not get airborne.

“That can be achieved through correct handling,” Vijayaraghavan says.

“For instance, we handle nanomaterials inside a fume hood and we wear gloves, facemasks and appropriate personal protection equipment inside a confined space so airflow is minimised.”

Vijayaraghavan also says nanomaterials pose a fire and explosion risk.

“When we make and handle nanoparticles in the lab there is certainly a chemical risk relating to fire and explosion,” he says.

“It is a hazard issue we must always consider when developing a process such as creating a new nanoparticle or nanomaterial. We have to look at all the chemicals we use and the potential reactions and try to understand if anything is going to explode or create hazardous or exothermic reactions.”

Meanwhile, Barry Park, director at GBP Consulting, says a major part of safely working with nanomaterials and particulates is risk management.

“If you understand the potential hazards and have conducted adequate exposure assessments you can then put appropriate risk management controls in place.”

Park says some of those working with nanomaterials may have to consider creating a more suitable engineering facility that is better equipped at minimising exposure to nanomaterial hazards.

“However, organisations are now much better than they were at effectively managing risk. They are now far more aware of the risks of handling nanomaterials,” he says.

“Unfortunately, though, nothing can ever be 100% bullet-proof.”

If you understand the potential hazards and have conducted adequate exposure assessments you can then put appropriate risk management controls in place

Barry Park, director at GBP Consulting

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessments exist so those handling nanomaterials do so as safely as possible, and require employers to rigorously control substances that may be hazardous.

A COSHH risk assessment seeks to discover potential health hazards; how to prevent harm; how to ensure control measures are adhered to; and provides information, instruction and training for employees and others, among a number of in-depth parameters which can be accessed via the HSE.

“We have to try and consider every possible hazard…that is why we have COSHH forms,” says Vijayaraghavan.

“All the risks have to be identified as best as possible,” he adds. Meanwhile, disposal of nanomaterials, of which there is currently no waste regulatory framework in the UK, presents its own challenges.

At your disposal

The UKNSG guidance covers safety concerns relating to the disposal of nanomaterials and Kinnison says the group sees safe disposal as part of the COSHH process.

“You have to think about treating waste nanomaterials and disposing of them safely,” he says.

In terms of disposal, Kinnison says it is best to err on the side of caution and therefore nanomaterials are generally incinerated after use.

“However, when production is scaled-up to a more industrial level I think you will see new developments in the recycling of so-called ‘waste’ nanomaterials,” Kinnison says.

He says recycling in general is increasingly becoming a strategy employed throughout higher education.

“There are almost certainly going to be new opportunities in disposal because certain nanomaterials are very expensive to produce and if they can be recycled manufacturers would consider it. This is a very progressive issue.”