Nanoparticle manufacture ambient air chemical and physical survey as a tool for accidental and chronic risk assessment

Abstract : Nowadays, nanotechnology lets foresee many opportunities and benefits for new materials with significantly improved properties as well as revolutionary applications in large industrial flelds. Analysts have estimated that the size of the market was 900 million Euro in 2005 and will be 11 billion Euro in 2010. However, nanomaterial industrial stakeholders are currently encountering potential problems with hazard control in their production plants. Release of nanoparticles in air can lead to violent chemical reactions and even explosions because of their small size and energetic properties, and hence high chemical reactivity. Another major safery concern is the impact of manufacturing nanoparticles on the environment and more specifically on the health of workers and of neighbouring populations. Thus, a key issue consists of controlling the release of nanoparticles with chemical or physical toxicological impacts under the ambient background.