S. Tsai, K. Ahn, M. Ellenbecker, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA; J. Isaacs, Northeastern University, Boston, MA.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell, Northeastern University, and the University of New Hampshire together form the NSF Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing (CHN). Its primary mission is to develop manufacturing processes that move nanomaterials and devices from the laboratory to production. A unique element of CHN is the integration of occupational and environmental health and safety into its mission. As part of this effort, we have monitored nanoparticle air concentrations and size distributions in a variety of CHN research laboratories. This presentation reports the results of that monitoring. Using a TSI fast mobility particle sizer, particle number concentrations were measured from 5 nm to 560 nm in 32 size channels for 16 processes. Measurements were taken at background locations, source locations, and researcher breathing zones. Monitored processes include electrospinning, compounding, carbon nanotube furnace, fullerene reaction, twin-screw extruding, silica handling, and carbon black handling. Monitored nanoparticles include nanoclay, nanoalumina, carbon black, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes. Background number concentrations and size distributions varied significantly among the processes. Breathing zone concentrations and size distributions were not significantly different from background when the process or handling was performed inside a laboratory fume hood or an effective local exhaust hood. However, high number concentrations were recorded for operations without proper local exhaust ventilation. For one such process, twin-screw extruding, the maximum concentration was 210,000/cm3 in the 45-60 nm size range. While research activities for various nanotechnologies have increased rapidly, few monitoring data are available for airborne nanoparticle number concentrations and size distributions. Our data should be useful for assessing potential exposure risks to the nanoparticles that may be generated from the various processes we monitored. Based on the monitoring data, we are developing nanoparticle exposure control strategies.
J. Palassis, NIOSH, Cincinnati, OH.
There are tens of thousands of secondary schools in America, and millions of students attend these schools. Most of these schools have science laboratories with hazardous chemicals. Many student injuries occur from chemical accidents in high school science, especially in chemical laboratories. There is a need for easy-to-understand safety practical information that would educate teachers and students about chemical safety and ultimately reduce chemical injuries in laboratory environments at schools. A four-year multiagency effort culminated in a practical chemical safety document, School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide, which provides easy-to-understand information in checklist form. The 60-page guide was a collaborative effort between the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), NIOSH, and EPA. CPSC and NIOSH coordinated and collaborated with stakeholders and partners in the chemical industry, unions, teachers and their associations, state and federal OSHA, and EPA. The safety guide contains information on teacher responsibilities; safety do’s and don’ts for students; chemical hygiene plans; material safety data sheets (MSDS); purchasing chemicals; setting up a chemical tracking system; labeling chemical containers; storing chemicals; storage, maintenance, and handling of compressed gas cylinders; reducing the amount or toxicity of chemical waste generated in the laboratory; and chemical disposal. Thirteen appendices cover common safety symbols, National Fire Protection Association hazard labels, substances with greater hazardous nature than educational utility, substances with a hazardous nature and potential educational utility, recommended safety and emergency equipment for the laboratory, how a chemical enters the body, exposure limits, guidelines for emergencies, and understanding an MSDS. The publication was approved by NIOSH in July 2006 as DHHS (NIOSH) 2006-143 and by CPSC in September 2006 as publication no. 390. The safety guide will be printed as a CD-ROM, which will contain numerous related chemical safety publications from other agencies and organizations.
T. Roberts, E. Yu, R. Herbert, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA.
Laboratory safety programs tend to focus on such topics as ventilation, eye and hand protection, chemical and equipment hazards, training, and spill control plans. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory program includes all of these items. The Chemistry, Materials, and Life Science Directorate has also added an ergonomics component to help prevent injuries and illnesses related to laboratory workers‘ relationships to work areas. This presentation will address the development and implementation of the program and will share some of the solutions developed related to common lab environments.
H. Byun, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; J. Park, Korea Environment Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Recently, there were several fatal accidents of laboratories in universities and private research institutes in Korea,and the nationwide concern on laboratory workers’ safety and health has grown. Reflecting on these, a laboratory safety act was enacted in 2006, and a new division for research laboratory safety has been established in the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). A survey by MOST was conducted to (1) investigate the actual conditions of the universities’ laboratory safety, (2) provide guidelines for universities to implement the act, and (3) suggest more comprehensive approaches for laboratory safety management. For the survey, a list of questions was compiled based on the requirements of the act. The questionnaire had two parts: (1) questions about the organization/system of laboratory safety and health management, and (2) questions about the related activities that had been executed. The questionnaire was sent to all 400 universities in Korea. Among the universities answering the questionnaire (174/337, or 52%), 29% appeared to have a safety department in their organization chart and 27% had established written policies for managing laboratory safety. Safety surveillance was performed in a few universities, although few universities had monitored chemical exposures. About 70% of universities answered that they had no budget for laboratory safety management. Less than 50% of universities maintained laboratory safety training program and medical examination. The results suggested that Korean universities should (1) obtain sufficient personnel and budget, (2) establish laboratory safety and health management policies, and (3) develop laboratory safety training programs. The results from this study will help policymakers and universities prioritize measures for improving the current status of laboratory safety and health management.
T. Smith, Exposure Control Technologies Inc., Cary, NC.
Laboratory fume hoods provide protection for laboratory personnel working with potentially hazardous airborne materials. The performance of the laboratory fume hood is a function of containment and the ability to prevent overexposure. Traditionally, most fume hoods are operated with an average face velocity of approximately 100 fpm. However, the cost of ventilation, estimated at approximately $5 per cfm-year, has increased the desire to achieve equivalent performance at reduced exhaust flow and average face velocity. There are numerous manufacturers of low-flow (sometimes called high-performance) fume hoods. The manufacturers claim that their hoods provide equivalent performance using 40% less flow and provide containment at average face velocities of approximately 60 fpm. Hundreds of tests have been conducted according to ASHRAE 110, Method of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods, to evaluate performance of the high-performance fume hoods. This presentation provides the results of performance tests conducted on a number of different designs, an analysis of the factors affecting performance, and recommendations for safe operation of high-performance fume hoods.
S. Eston, W. Iramina, USP University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; M. Fantazzini, Dupont do Brasil, São Paulo, Brazil.
Industrial hygiene (IH) is being taught at the University of São Paulo at undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education (specialization) levels. At undergraduate levels, IH is taught in the mining, petroleum, and environmental engineering courses. IH also is taught at the graduate level for masters and doctoral programs and at the specialization level, in safety engineering and occupational hygiene courses. Since 2004, the specialization courses are also offered in the e-learning mode, with a large enrollment from Brazil and other countries in Central America, South America, Portugal, and Africa. Laboratory practice is mandatory in traditional classrooms but is difficult when there are more than 20 students per class. Computer simulation of physical agents monitoring has been developed in 2004 and was received with enthusiasm by students in the last two years. The virtual laboratory (LAV) now includes gas monitoring, illumination, whole-body vibration, noise, thermal comfort, electrical safety, and other parameters. This was the first application of LAV, which is now an available tool for enrolled students. Since 2006 the LAV is being improved to teach sampling strategy applied to IH parameters (LAVA). Virtual measurements may lead to values that are distributed according to normal or lognormal curves. Students test the virtual data to verify which curve would give the best fit and then must calculate central tendency and dispersion parameters for the chosen distribution. Finally, the obtained values must be compared to legal occupational exposure limits, and students must decide whether the limit is exceeded or whether they need more measurements to decide within a specified confidence level. Using LAVA to teach laboratory instrumentation and sampling strategy has improved student interest in IH courses at the engineering school of the University of São Paulo.