EPFL innovates in the management of nanoparticles
The EPFL-Nanosafe team has received an award for its methodology in preventive risk management linked to the use of nanoparticles in research.
On January 24, in Bern, Thierry Meyer, head of the service for Safety and Health at Work at EPFL’s School of Basic Sciences, and his team received a special mention in the form of the Prix Santé-Entreprise 2010, awarded by the European Association for the Promotion of Health for preventive risk management linked to the use of nanomaterials.
With its multidisciplinary and inter-faculty basis, the Nanosafe-EPFL team (Amela Groso, Arnaud Magrez, Alke Fink, Patrick Pugeaud, Joseph Guzzardi, Jean-Michel Poffet and Michael Riediker of IST), supported by the SUVA and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (OSEC), has developed a pragmatic tool that enables the evaluation of risks and the implementation of appropriate measures.
Today, it’s estimated that more than 300 EPFL scientists – spread across about a hundred laboratories – produce, modify or regularly use nanomaterials. An evaluation process involving the researchers, and using a chart to allow the definition of nano-related activities, has now been put in place. It’s important to take account of the type and condition of the nanomaterial in question (fiber or particle), of the way it’s used (in powdered form, suspended in a liquid or in a solid matrix), of the quantity, of its potential agglomerative properties, and of the process used etc. In contrast, chemical types hardly affect this classification. Working with nanotubes of dry carbon, gold nanoparticles or with titanium dioxide in powder form requires more stringent measures than when working with colloids or with nano-objets suspended in a liquid. The steps to be taken, according to the established classification, are of a technical, operational and personal nature. They range from the practices usually applied in chemical laboratories to more stringent measures which might include, for example, the wearing of (a complete set of) Tyvek overalls. The cleaning team, those who receive or dispose of nanomaterials, and the administrative personnel are equally concerned by the various measures.
“The epidemiological studies are particularly long (10 to 20 years). Very little of the research work provides us with usable results, as we still lack hindsight in this respect. We have therefore applied the results related to diesel nanoparticles – one of the rare usable studies – to develop our tool. Apart from that, we apply the principle of precaution, and integrate new data and knowledge on the dangers and risks linked to nano-objects as soon as they become available”, explains Thierry Meyer. This innovative system of risk management, developed at EPFL, has attracted the interest of many organizations responsible for health at work. A good example from the U.S. is the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) which was quick to get in touch, with the goal of benefitting from this tool in their institution.
Links:
http://gscp.epfl.ch/