Nanomaterials

Engineered nanomaterials can pose workplace health and safety hazards. These hazards are greater if the nanomaterials are easily dispersed -- such as in cases of aerosols. Nanomaterials can have unique physical, chemical, and biological properties that may enable their use in new applications such as stain-free textiles and selective pharmaceuticals.

Nanomaterials may be more hazardous than larger particles of the same material. As a result, existing exposure limits may not be adequate for equivalent nanomaterials.

Through its network of analytical laboratories ALS works with you to identify, assess, and control unbound nanomaterials and the hazards they present in your workplace. ALS characterizes the morphology and chemistry of your aerosols and determines if your employees are exposed.

Potential Nanomaterial Hazards include:

• Pulmonary inflammation
• Cancer
• Increased risk of explosion or fire, as dust may be more combustible than that of larger particles
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Cellular function disruption
• Chemical acceleration (acting as a catalyst)