Archives

March 4, 2020

NIOSH CIB on Practices in Occupational Risk Assessment Addresses Nanomaterials

On March 4, 2020, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a Federal Register notice announcing the availability of its Current Intelligence Bulletin 69:  NIOSH Practices in Occupational Risk Assessment.  85 Fed. Reg. 12786.  The Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) describes the process and logic NIOSH uses to conduct risk assessments, including the following steps: Appendix C of the CIB includes sections addressing nanomaterials...
February 19, 2020

NIOSH Publishes Science Blog Item on Nano- and Microplastics in the Workplace

On February 19, 2020, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) posted a Science Blog item entitled “Are There Nano- and Microplastics in the Workplace?” that reviews workplace exposure to microplastics (defined by NIOSH as “plastic particles smaller than 5 mm”) and nanoplastics (the nanoscale fraction of plastic particles).  NIOSH states that nano- and microplastic particles (NMPP) “can be formed through environmental and mechanical degradation (the...
December 18, 2019

Information on Engineered Nanomaterials Due to NIOSH by February 18, 2020

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a Federal Register notice on December 17, 2019, requesting information on toxicological and physicochemical data of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) to evaluate in developing categorical occupational exposure limits (OEL).  84 Fed. Reg. 68935.  As reported in our December 16, 2019, blog item, NIOSH intends to develop categorical OELs based on the available scientific evidence regarding the...
December 16, 2019

NIOSH Will Request Information on Engineered Nanomaterials to Evaluate in Developing OELs

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is scheduled to publish a Federal Register notice on December 17, 2019, requesting information on toxicological and physicochemical data of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) to evaluate in developing categorical occupational exposure limits (OEL).  According to the notice, NIOSH intends to develop categorical OELs based on the available scientific evidence regarding the hazard or safety of ENMs.  NIOSH seeks...
December 7, 2019

NTP Publishes Technical Report on Toxicity Studies of 1020 Long Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

On December 5, 2019, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) announced that the NTP Technical Report on the Toxicity Studies of 1020 Long Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Administered by Inhalation to Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley® SD®) Rats and B6C3F1/N Mice is now available.  In 2003, the Rice University Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology nominated nanoscale materials as a class of substances for toxicological evaluation.  The recommended...
October 3, 2019

NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center Seeks Input from Manufacturers, Distributors, Fabricators, Formulators, and Users of Engineered Nanomaterials

According to an item in the September 2019 issue of NIOSH eNews, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is working with RTI International to distribute a survey to companies that manufacture, distribute, fabricate, formulate, use, or provide services related to engineered nanomaterials.  The item states that the goal of the survey is to assess the impact of NIOSH’s contribution to guidelines and risk mitigation practices for the safe handling of...
September 23, 2019

NNI Begins Registration for October 8 Webinar on Evaluating Worker and Consumer Exposure to Engineered Nanomaterials

The National Nanotechnology Initiative will hold a webinar on October 8, 2019, on “Evaluating Worker and Consumer Exposure to Engineered Nanomaterials.”  The webinar, part of NNI’s 2019 series on the environmental, health, and safety effects of nanomaterials (nanoEHS), will examine the tools, techniques, and successes in assessing and managing potential effects of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) in the workplace and consumer environments.  According to NNI, the presentations...
September 12, 2019

CDC Seeks Additional Comment on Proposed NIOSH Project That Will Survey Engineered Nanomaterial Occupational Safety and Health Practices

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a Federal Register notice on September 11, 2019, to provide an additional 30-day comment period on its proposed information collection project entitled “Survey of Engineered Nanomaterial Occupational Safety and Health Practices.”  84 Fed. Reg. 47957.  As reported in our April 24, 2019, blog item, on April 23, 2019, CDC published a Federal Register notice inviting comment on the proposed...
August 22, 2019

NIOSH Publishes One-Pager on Nanotechnology Research Center’s Accomplishments and Future Activities

On August 20, 2019, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) posted a one-pager on the Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC).  NTRC conducts research to understand the potential effects on human health of exposure to engineered nanomaterials and develops methods to control or eliminate exposures.  NTRC focuses on the following areas “to help industry move safely and responsibly into the future”: NTRC’s accomplishments include completing peer and...
July 24, 2019

NIOSH Report on Occupational Exposure Banding Process for Chemical Management Addresses Nanofibers and Nanoparticles

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced on July 10, 2019, the availability of a new Technical Report, The NIOSH Occupational Exposure Banding Process for Chemical Risk Management.  NIOSH describes occupational exposure banding as “a voluntary process that assigns each chemical to a category based on its toxicity and any negative health outcomes associated with exposure to that chemical.”  The Technical Report “provides a process...