IRSST Project Measures Nanoparticle Penetration into Protective Gloves

The Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) published a news item on January 16, 2017, entitled “Nanoparticles — to handle with care.”  IRSST states that although research is still in development, it appears that nanoparticles can enter the respiratory tract or penetrate through the skin and make their way to the bloodstream, which may carry the nanoparticles to various organs.  While studies have been conducted on respiratory protection equipment, IRSST notes that few have been done on skin protection and especially gloves.  IRSST is funding a research project to develop a method for measuring nanoparticle penetration into materials used to make protective gloves under conditions representative of the workplace setting.  IRSST links to a Prévention au travail article in which Ludwig Vinches, the lead researcher for the project, explains why the gloves are fragile.