فهرست مطالب seyed husein naziri

 With the increase in the use of nanomaterials, there is a greater risk of exposure to harmful substances in occupational settings, especially in those with limited information on the impact on human health. As a result, the assessment of risks associated with these materials is often challenging, as traditional methods are not sufficient. The development and implementation of tools for classifying risk levels can be seen as an essential step in protecting the well-being of individuals engaged in work related to nanomaterials. Among the various approaches, Control Banding (CB) classification emerges as an effective and practicable qualitative technique for evaluating the potential health hazards linked to engineered nanomaterials. The primary objective of this study revolves around employing the Control Banding approach to evaluate and mitigate occupational risks stemming from the manipulation of nanomaterials.

 The resources were examined in order to identify the factors that impact health hazards in workplaces that handle nanomaterials. This examination considered the potential risks associated with nanomaterials found in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, as well as citations from authoritative sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). After conducting a thorough analysis of the available literature, the hazards associated with chemical substances and exposure methods when working with nanomaterials were identified. This analysis further resulted in the determination of the risk and exposure score using the CB approach. Furthermore, an investigation was conducted on control measures related to the identified level of risk.

 The categorization of risk scores, determined by the approach of classifying control measures, yielded five distinct categories. These categories, ranging from HB1 as the lowest to HB5 as the highest level of risk, were established based on information pertaining to indicators such as acute toxicity, sensitization, stimulation, and organ damage. Similarly, the categorization of exposure scores, determined by the approach of classifying control measures, resulted in four distinct categories. These categories, ranging from EB1 as the lowest to EB4 as the highest level of exposure, were derived from information concerning the manufacturing methods and release power of various types of nanomaterials, taking into account the probability of exposure. Subsequently, by merging the categories corresponding to the risk score and exposure, the risk level was determined across five categories, with R1 representing the lowest and R5 representing the highest level of risk. In accordance with the classification approach, control measures were proposed based on each level of occupational risk when working with nanomaterials.

 The nanomaterials risk management tool based on the approach of CB is an easy and qualitative method to evaluate and make decisions in order to reduce the risk of handing nanomaterials. In this approach, it is easy to achieve risk assessment results by identifying the inherent risks of a substance and predicting the probability of exposure. Using such tools in work environments can help professionals identify and remove obstacles and provide the possibility to communicate with managers.

Due to uncertainties regarding the risks of engineered nanomaterials for human health and the environment, different organizations and researchers have developed various management frameworks and assessment tools to mitigate hazards during the procedures and applications of engineered nanomaterials. However, most of these techniques do not meet all the individual requirements. This study provides a review and introduction to the techniques developed for the management of safety, health, and environmental risks associated with engineered nanomaterials.

In order to find pertinent documents on the safe handling of engineered nanomaterials, a search was conducted using the following keywords: “Engineered nanomaterials”, “Framework”, “Tool”, “Risk management”, “Occupational exposure”, “Environment”, “Risk assessment”, and “Nanotechnology”. The search was conducted on various databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, NIOSH, ECHA, and ISO. Among the search results, tools and frameworks that specifically focus on the safety, health, and environmental risk management or assessment of engineered nanomaterials were selected.

Among the search results, 17 frameworks and 11 developments in the field of managing occupational, environmental, and toxicological risks associated with engineered nanomaterials were discussed. Various frameworks and tools for identifying, evaluating, and managing the potential risks of engineered nanomaterials vary in terms of their scope, goals, risk assessment approaches, and output, offering diverse applications.

Various tools and frameworks, each with unique properties, applications, and limitations, can assist organizations in achieving their goals related to safety, health, and environmental issues in the field of nanotechnology. Currently, there is no consensus on the optimal approach for assessing the risks of nanomaterials, underscoring the necessity for additional research, development, and collaboration in this field.