Controlling Nanoparticle Exposures

Often, assessing nanoparticle exposures establishes a need to control the exposures should they present unacceptable risks to human health. This chapter focuses on control measures for airborne nanoparticles in work environments. It discusses the hierarchy of control measures and ways to prioritize control options within that hierarchy. The suitability of different types of control measures for reducing nanoparticle exposures is considered. Local exhaust ventilation is the most important engineering control for reducing worker exposures to airborne nanoparticles. Ventilated enclosures that surround nanoparticle sources are better at controlling exposures than exterior hoods that must draw the nanoparticles in after they are released. Filters are the best air pollution control devices to capture nanoparticles from moving air streams. Work practices can minimize worker exposures to nanoparticles. Energy input should be minimized when transferring nanomaterials. In particular, the height that nanopowders are dropped should be reduced wherever feasible.