The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is researching the health effects that nanoparticles may have on workers who handle them and who are exposed to them.
NIOSH recently published research that measured for the first time the health effects of inhaling a common nanoparticle, the single-walled carbon nanotube. In this study, researchers examined what happens when mice breathe in carbon nanotubes. (WCxKit)
A nanoparticle of a certain material can behave much differently than a larger, more familiar-sized particle of the same material. Early research shows that materials that enter the body as nano-sized particles may have harmful health effects, even for some materials previously considered safe at larger sizes.
NIOSH scientists invented a way to suspend nanotubes in air so the concentration of particles could be carefully controlled, different from previous tests where particles were aspirated. It was the first time a well-characterized controlled aerosol of a carbon nanotube had been generated.
The new results demonstrated that carbon nanotubes were more potent when inhaled than when aspirated. (WCxKit)
In addition, this research has shown early indications of serious health outcomes that may have longer term effects such as cancer, and therefore, ongoing research is important to more clearly understand the implications of exposure to carbon nanotubes.
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Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
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