Acquiring exposure data and contextual information for demonstration of system-of-systems nano risk governance platform
Abstract
Currently, none of the existing REACH compliance models are suited or validated for risk assessment of manufactured nanomaterials, and many existing exposure limits are not suitable for nanomaterials. In EU H2020-funded project caLIBRAte this will be address by developing a 'system of systems', based on a suite of tested and calibrated manufactured nano-specific risk prioritisation and control banding tools. The overall objective of the caLIBRAte project is to establish a state-of-the-art versatile Risk Governance framework for assessment and management of human and environmental risks of MN and MN-enabled products. To achieve the goals, case studies in industrial sites are needed to generate new occupational exposure and environmental release data with high quality conceptual information for demonstration/verification of the modelling tools. In this study multi-instrumental occupational and environmental exposure assessment combined with NECID-based data gathering was performed in a paint factory by collaboration of research groups. In the field study comprehensive exposure measurements of the production activities of three different paint batches, using e.g. TiO2, were performed. The activity-based measurements consisted of personal measurement of one worker in two different working stations, and associated nearfield, farfield and background measurements. Online monitoring and mass sampling for particles from 6 nm upward was conducted for whole day shifts during three days. Contextual information was collected for NECID database, for use in later stages with modelling tools. This paper will describe the occupational exposure assessment and contextual data gathering of the activities in the workplace. Suitability of the gathered data for risk assessment with different modelling tools is discussed.