Environmental Health & Safety

Nanomaterials Quick Guide

Risk Levels and Control Measures for Nanomaterials

Purpose
This Quick Guide categorizes common laboratory operations involving engineered nanomaterials according to their potential risk of exposure to personnel, which is based on the state of the material and the conditions of use. Controls are provided in the table to minimize exposures. This guide is intended to be used in conjunction with the academic institutions’ laboratory safety practices or other established guidelines (e.g., Prudent Practices by The National Research Council).

Instructions
Follow these steps to create a Standard Operating Procedure:
Step 1: Determine your risk level
Risk Level Material State or Type of Use Examples
Category 1
Lower Exposure Potential

Material State
No potential for airborne release (when handling)

Solid: Bound in a substrate or matrix
Liquid: Water-based liquid suspensions or gels
Gas: No potential for release into air (when handling)

Type of Use
No thermal or mechanical stress
  • Non-destructive handling of solid engineered nanoparticle composites or nanoparticles permanently bonded to a substrate
Category 2
Moderate Exposure Potential

Material State
Moderate potential for airborne release (when handling)

Solid: Powders or Pellets
Liquid: Solvent-based liquid suspensions or gels
Air: Potential for release into air (when handling)

Type of Use
Thermal or mechanical stress induced
  • Pouring, heating ,or mixing liquid suspensions (e.g., stirring or pipetting), or operations with high degree of agitation involved (e.g., sonication)
  • Weighing or transferring powders or pellets
  • Changing bedding out of laboratory animal cages
Category 3
Higher Exposure Potential

Material State
High potential for airborne release (when handling)

Solid: Powders or Pellets with extreme potential for release into air
Gas: Suspended in gas
  • Generating or manipulating nanomaterials in gas phase or in aerosol form
  • Furnace operations
  • Cleaning reactors
  • Changing filter elements
  • Cleaning dust collection systems used to capture nanomaterials
  • High speed abrading / grinding nanocomposite materials
Step 2: Identify the controls needed

Use the information below to identify the controls needed to work with the risk level of your nanomaterial (Category 1, Category 2, or Category 3).

Category 1
Low exposure potential

Engineering

 Fume Hood or Biosafety Cabinet. Perform work with open containers of nanomaterials in liquid suspension or gels in a laboratory-type fume hood or biosafety cabinet, as practical.
Work Practices

Storage and labeling. Store in sealed container and secondary containment with other compatible chemicals. Label chemical container with identity of content (include the term “nano” in descriptor).

Preparation. Line workspace with absorbent materials.

Transfer in secondary containment. Transfer between laboratories or buildings in sealed containers with secondary containment.

Housekeeping. Clean all surfaces potentially contaminated with nanoparticles (i.e., benches, glassware, apparatus) at the end of each operation using a HEPA vacuum and/or wet wiping methods. DO NOT dry sweep or use compressed air.

Hygiene. Wash hands frequently. Upon leaving the work area, remove any PPE and wash hands, forearms, face, and neck.

Notification. Follow institution’s hazard communication processes for advanced notification of animal facility and cage labeling/management requirements if dosing animals with the nanomaterial
PPE

Eye protection. Wear proper safety glasses with side shields (for powders or liquids with low probability for dispersion into the air)

Face protection. Use face shield where splash potential exists.

Gloves. Wear disposable gloves to match the hazard, including consideration of other chemicals used in conjunction with nanomaterials (refer to Table 1. Glove Choices for Nanomaterials)

Body protection. Wear laboratory coat and long pants (no cuffs).

Closed toe shoes.

Category 2
Moderate exposure potential

Engineering Fume Hood, Biosafety Cabinet, or Enclosed System. Perform work in a laboratory-type fume hood, biosafety cabinet* (must be ducted if used in conjunction with volatile compounds), powder handling enclosure, or enclosed system (i.e., glove box, glove bag, or sealed chamber).
Work Practices

Category 1 Work Practices. Follow all work practices listed for Category 1. 

Access. Restrict access. 

Signage. Post signs in area.

Materials. Use antistatic paper and/or sticky mats with powders.
PPE

Category 1 PPE. Wear all PPE listed for Category 1.

Eye protection. Wear proper chemical splash goggles (for liquids with powders with moderate to high probability for dispersion into the air).

Gloves. Wear two layers of disposable, chemical-protective gloves.

Body protection. Wear laboratory coat made of non-woven fabrics with elastic at the wrists (disposable Tyvek®-type coveralls preferred).

Closed toe shoes. Wear disposable over-the-shoe booties to prevent tracking nanomaterials from the laboratory when working with powders and pellets.

Respiratory Protection. If working with engineering controls is not feasible, respiratory protection may be required. Consult an EH&S professional for more information (i.e., N95 respirator, or one fitted with a P-100 cartridge).

Category 3
High exposure potential

Engineering Enclosed System. Perform work in an enclosed system (i.e., glove box, glove bag, or sealed chamber).
Work Practices Category 2 Work Practices. Follow all work practices listed for Category 2.
PPE

Category 2 PPE. Wear all PPE listed for Category 2.

Body protection. Wear disposable Tyvek®-type coveralls with head coverage.

Respiratory Protection. If working with engineering controls is not feasible, respiratory protection may be required. Consult an EH&S professional for more information (i.e., N95 respirator, or one fitted with a P-100 cartridge).
Step 3. Develop a Standard Operating Procedure

Complete Appendix A “Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Laboratory Use of Engineered Nanomaterials” (template). For examples, refer to Appendix B (sample).