Schmid Kaspar, Riediker Michael
Institute for Work and Health, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Environ Sci Technol. 2008 Apr 1;42(7):2253-60. doi: 10.1021/es071818o.
A large number of applications using manufactured nanoparticles of less than 100 nm are currently being introduced into industrial processes. There is an urgent need to evaluate the risks of these novel particles to ensure their safe production, handling, use, and disposal. However, today we lack even rudimentary knowledge about type and quantity of industrially used manufactured nanoparticles and the level of exposure in Swiss industry. The goal of this study was to evaluate the use of nanoparticles, the currently implemented safety measures, and the number of potentially exposed workers in all types of industry. To evaluate this, a targeted telephone survey was conducted among health and safety representatives from 197 Swiss companies. The survey showed that nanoparticles are already used in many industrial sectors; not only in companies in the new field of nanotechnology, but also in more traditional sectors, such as paints. Forty-three companies declared to use or produce nanoparticles, and 11 imported and traded with prepackaged goods that contain nanoparticles. The following nanoparticles were found to be used in considerable quantities (> 1000 kg/year per company): Ag, Al-Ox, Fe-Ox, SiO2, TiO2, and ZnO. The median reported quantity of handled nanoparticles was 100 kg/year. The production of cosmetics, food, paints, powders, and the treatment of surfaces used the largest quantities of these nanoparticles. Generally, the safety measures were found to be higher in powder-based than in liquid-based applications. However, the respondents had many open questions about best practices, which points to the need for rapid development of guidelines and protection strategies.
目前，大量使用小于100纳米人造纳米颗粒的应用正被引入工业生产过程。迫切需要评估这些新型颗粒的风险，以确保其安全生产、处理、使用和处置。然而，如今我们甚至对工业使用的人造纳米颗粒的类型和数量以及瑞士工业中的接触水平缺乏基本了解。本研究的目的是评估纳米颗粒的使用情况、当前实施的安全措施以及各类行业中可能接触纳米颗粒的工人数量。为了进行评估，我们对197家瑞士公司的健康与安全代表进行了有针对性的电话调查。调查显示，纳米颗粒已在许多工业领域得到应用；不仅在纳米技术新领域的公司中使用，在涂料等更传统的行业中也有使用。43家公司宣称使用或生产纳米颗粒，11家公司进口并交易含纳米颗粒的预包装商品。发现以下纳米颗粒的使用量较大（每家公司每年>1000千克）：银、氧化铝、氧化铁、二氧化硅、二氧化钛和氧化锌。报告的纳米颗粒处理量中位数为每年100千克。化妆品、食品、涂料、粉末的生产以及表面处理使用了这些纳米颗粒中的最大量。一般来说，基于粉末的应用中的安全措施比基于液体的应用中的安全措施更高。然而，受访者对最佳实践有许多未解决的问题，这表明需要迅速制定指南和保护策略。
