Critical Nanotechnology Topic Areas

The 10 Critical Topic Areas

NIOSH has identified 10 critical topic areas for nanotechnology research and communication. This serves as a guide for NIOSH to address knowledge gaps, develop strategies, and provide recommendations.

Toxicity and Internal Dose

• Investigating and determining the physical and chemical properties such as size, shape, solubility that influence the potential toxicity of nanoparticles.
• Evaluating the short and long-term effects that nanomaterials may have in organ systems and tissues, for example the lungs.
• Determining the biological mechanisms for potential toxic effects.
• Creating and integrating models to assist in assessing possible hazards.
• Determining if a measure other than mass is more appropriate for determining toxicity.

Risk Assessment

• Determining the likelihood that current exposure-response data (human or animal) could be used in identifying and assessing potential occupational hazards.
• Developing a framework for evaluating potential hazards and predicting potential occupational risk of exposure to nanomaterials.

Epidemiology & Surveillance

• Evaluating existing epidemiological workplace studies where nanomaterials are used.
• Identifying knowledge gaps where epidemiological studies could advance understanding of nanomaterials and evaluating the likelihood of conducting new studies.
• Integrating nanotechnology health and safety issues into existing hazard surveillance methods and determining whether additional screening methods are needed.
• Using existing systems to share data and information about nanotechnology.

Engineering Controls and PPE

• Evaluating the effectiveness of engineering controls in reducing occupational exposures to nanoaerosols and developing new controls where needed.
• Evaluating and improving current personal protective equipment.
• Developing recommendations to prevent or limit occupational exposures, for example respirator fit testing.
• Evaluating the suitability of control banding techniques where additional information is needed and evaluating the effectiveness of alternative materials.

Measurement Methods

• Evaluating methods of measuring mass of respirable particles in the air and determining if this measurement can be used to measure nanomaterials.
• Developing and field-testing practical methods to accurately measure airborne nanomaterials in the workplace.
• Developing testing and evaluation systems to compare and validate sampling instruments.

Exposure Assessment

• Determining key factors that influence the production, dispersion, accumulation, and re-entry of nanomaterials into the workplace.
• Assessing possible exposure when nanomaterials are inhaled or settle on the skin.
• Determining how possible exposures differ by work process.
• Determining what happens to nanomaterials once they enter the body.

Fire and Explosion Safety

• Identifying physical and chemical properties that contribute to dustiness, combustibility, flammability, and conductivity of nanomaterials.
• Recommending alternative work practices to eliminate or reduce workplace exposures to nanoparticles.

Recommendations & Guidance

• Using the best available science to make interim recommendations for workplace safety and health practices during the production and use of nanomaterials.
• Evaluating and updating occupational exposure limits for mass-based airborne particles to ensure good continuing precautionary practices.
• Providing guidance and publications to help provide information on the best available science for nanomaterials.

Global Collaborations

• Establishing partnerships and collaborations to allow for identifying and sharing research needs, approaches, and results.
• Developing and disseminating training and educational materials to workers and health and safety professionals.

Applications

• Identifying uses of nanotechnology in occupational safety and health.
• Evaluating and disseminating effective applications to workers and occupational safety and health professionals.