Qualifying the Significance of the Results of Particle Measurement This section discusses options for triggering a review of particle emission controls based upon particle measurement results. Particle control values Underpinning the application of the precautionary approach is the need for a particle control that would guide the decision making in regard to controlling particles arising from value nanotechnology processes. There are a number of different types of particle control values that might be used for nanomaterial aerosols. These might be used in the following order of priority: A company or laboratory’s in-house control limits if these are lower, i.e. more – stringent, than applicable regulatory limits Australian Workplace Exposure Standards National exposure limits or recommended national exposure limits from another country, e.g. Recommended Exposure Limits (US NIOSH) Proposed workplace exposure limits from research results – Benchmark exposure levels which have some consideration of health effects – Local particle reference values derived from characterising background particle levels Appropriate application of this hierarchy of particle control values when assessing the significance of nanomaterial emissions and exposure will increase the number of particle control values available for use. Australian Workplace Exposure Standards In the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations, Regulation 49 states that: A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that no person at the workplace is exposed to a substance or mixture in an airborne concentration that exceeds the relevant exposure standard for the substance or mixture. With regard to nanomaterials, Australian Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) have been set for a small number of chemicals for which the primary particle size is nanoscale, i.e., they are nanomaterials. These WES, which are eight-hour time-weighted average standards are [78]: Carbon 3 mg m-3, and – Fumed silica 2 mg m-3. –
Qualifying the Significance of the Results of Particle Measurement This section discusses options for triggering a review of particle emission controls based upon particle measurement results. Particle control values Underpinning the application of the precautionary approach is the need for a particle control value that would guide the decision making in regard to controlling particles arising from nanotechnology processes. There are a number of different types of particle control values that might be used for nanomaterial aerosols. These might be used in the following order of priority: A company or laboratory’s in-house control limits – if these are lower, i.e. more stringent, than applicable regulatory limits Australian Workplace Exposure Standards National exposure limits or recommended national exposure limits from another country, e.g. Recommended Exposure Limits (US NIOSH) Proposed workplace exposure limits – from research results Benchmark exposure levels – which have some consideration of health effects Local particle reference values derived from characterising background particle levels Appropriate application of this hierarchy of particle control values when assessing the significance of nanomaterial emissions and exposure will increase the number of particle control values available for use. Australian Workplace Exposure Standards In the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations, Regulation 49 states that: A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that no person at the workplace is exposed to a substance or mixture in an airborne concentration that exceeds the relevant exposure standard for the substance or mixture. With regard to nanomaterials, Australian Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) have been set for a small number of chemicals for which the primary particle size is nanoscale, i.e., they are nanomaterials. These WES, which are eight-hour time-weighted average standards are [78]: Carbon – 3 mg m-3, and Fumed silica – 2 mg m-3.