Understanding the Management of Nanomaterials Safety in Research Environment
Wedad H. Al-Dahhan1, Khalid Zainulabdeen2, Atheel Alwash3, Emad Yousif4*
and Salam Mohammed5
1,2,3,4Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
5Department of Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Received: June 14, 2022 Accepted: July 20, 2022
Abstract
The concept of safety is as ancient as the history of humankind. However, as civilization progressed, this concept has showed a new dimension. Nanomaterials, the particle with diameters less than 100 nanometers (0.1 micrometers), is commonly benefitted nowadays. The use of these materials or technology has a great impact on the progress of industry, agriculture, and the advancement of scientific research. Its applications also have a direct impact to people's lives. Many researchers show interest in the unique properties of nanomaterials, ignoring the safety measures that should be taken when handling with these materials. This paper presents the main and important procedures need to be measured when dealing with nanomaterials, starting from the definition of the properties of these materials supported by some other examples. The research also highlights the roots of exposure to these materials and the personal protective equipment that should be used and how their waste can be disposed.
Keywords: nanomaterial, nanotechnology, safety, toxicity, research environment
Abstrak
Konsep keselamatan sama kunonya dengan sejarah umat manusia namun, seiring dengan kemajuan peradaban, konsep ini telah menunjukkan dimensi baru. Nanomaterials, partikel dengan diameter kurang dari 100 nanometer (0,1 mikrometer), umumnya sangat menguntungkan saat ini. Penggunaan bahan atau teknologi tersebut berdampak besar bagi kemajuan industri, pertanian, dan kemajuan penelitian ilmiah.
Penerapannya juga berdampak langsung pada kehidupan masyarakat. Banyak peneliti menunjukkan minat pada sifat unik bahan nano tapi mengabaikan langkah-langkah keamanan yang harus diambil saat menangani bahan-bahan ini. Makalah ini menyajikan prosedur utama dan penting yang perlu diukur ketika berhadapan dengan nanomaterial, dimulai dari definisi sifat-sifat material tersebut didukung oleh beberapa contoh lainnya. Penelitian ini juga menyoroti akar dari paparan bahan-bahan ini dan alat pelindung diri yang harus digunakan dan bagaimana limbahnya dapat dibuang.
Kata kunci: nanomaterial, nanoteknologi, keamanan, toksisitas, lingkungan penelitian
1. Introduction
A nanomaterial is characterized by any material with dimensions ranging from approximately 1 to 100 nanometers in diameter as shown in Figure 1 [1]. They are formed from natural materials such as volcanic ash or produced from the combustion residues of petroleum products (for example, diesel exhaust particles) or can be fabricated such as carbon nanotubes.
Figure 1. Diameter of the nanomaterial compared to head hair Source: Ref. [1]
Various shapes of nanomaterials can exist such as nanotubes, nanoplates, nanoparticles or nanorods, see (Figure 2) [2].
Figure 2. Various forms of nanomaterials Source: Ref. [2]
A lot of the physical properties of nanoparticles are quite different from bulk materials, yielding a wide variety of new applications. [3]. Meanwhile, the nanotechnology defined as a scale of technology, not a type, has a wide application in medicine, industrial applications, energy, materials science, electronics, engineering, cosmetics, communications, additives, food science, coatings, agriculture, and water purification. It is not a simple question of whether nanotechnology is toxic or safe since several possibilities need to take into consideration in this regard [4].
Properties of Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials have emerged as a distinct class of materials consisting of a wide range of one- dimensional examples ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers. High surface areas can be achieved through the rational design of nanoparticles. Producing nanomaterials can be achieved with outstanding magnetic, optical, mechanical, electrical and catalytic properties that are ultimately different from bulk counterparts.
The nanomaterial properties can be tuned as desired via precisely controlling the shape, size, appropriate functionalization and synthesis conditions [5].
Toxicological Aspects of Nanomaterials
Despite the attractive properties of these nanoparticles, they may still also be responsible for harmful effects on living organisms. Therefore, researchers are keen to study the toxicity of nanomaterials to understand and evaluate their hazardous properties [6]. However, a major challenge for nanotoxicology is to understand the mechanisms of these reactions to produce conventional toxic products that have not yet been studied or elucidated [7].
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment of nanomaterials is based on both the hazard presence and exposure level.
Nanomaterials toxicity may also differ between humans, plants, animals and environment. Nanomaterial toxicity can be related to its chemical and physical properties, such as shape, size, charge and reactivity, surface area and solubility [8]. If a chemical is toxic in its larger scale, it is likely that it will also be toxic in its nano scale, while the reverse is not necessarily true. Nanomaterials distribution in our bodies and how easily they are cleared by the body’s defense system may be different between nanomaterials and in bulk [9]. Figure 3 shows the basic four-step process of risk assessment [10].
Figure 3. The basic four-step process of risk assessment Source: Ref. [10]
Effects of Nanoparticles on Organisms
One of the fundamental issues related to the management and determination of the risks of nanomaterials is the appropriate characterization of the toxicity, especially for manufactured materials [11].
The fate and transport of nanoparticles argues that soil or water is the natural sink for nanoparticles [12].
Physicochemical Properties of the Nanomaterials
The physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials are the main factors that need to be taken into consideration [13]. It is non-toxic in large quantities but exhibits severe toxicity with reduced volume.
Moreover, surface area affects stimulating toxicity [14]. Morphology, size, coating and surface charge of nanomaterials play a key role in inducing toxicity (Figure 3) [15].
Figure 4. Nanomaterials physicochemical properties affecting toxicity Source: Ref. [15]
Human Rout of Nanomaterials exposure
The main routes of exposure are through the skin, lungs or intestinal tract causing adverse biological effects [16]. Nanomaterials can interact with the cells of the human body directly either through food or indirectly by dissolving from food containers [17].
Dust Explosion
A plethora of solid materials can burn quickly when their particles are finely divided. Where if such kind of dust particles are suspended in the air at a certain concentration, under special conditions, it becomes subject to combustion. Even materials that do not burn in larger pieces (such as aluminum or iron), their dust becomes subject to combustion under specific conditions [18]. Figure 5 shows the five elements of a dust blast pentagon. Engineered carbon nanoparticle dust is an explosive [19], especially when it goes through physical processing processes during the manufacturing stages.
For example, mixing, drilling, grinding, cleaning and sanding is a major cause of potential explosion of these nanoparticles unless the degree of humidity is thoughtfully controlled from the manufacture [20].
For fine particles, the severity of the explosion increases with decreasing particle size and increasing specific surface area. With this attention, it was discovered that the minimum ignition energy and temperature decrease with decreasing particle size [21].
Figure 5. The five elements of a dust blast pentagon Source: Ref. [19]
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is considered one of the lines of defense and is used in accordance with the applicable controls in order to be considered effective within the conditions of use, which reduces the levels of exposure to hazardous materials and is part of a comprehensive program for personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment protection can only provide protection if it is properly selected and properly maintained specially when working with nanomaterial. Working with nanomaterials requires personal protective equipment as shown in Figures 6 and Figure 7 [22] and specialized equipment to work in accordance with the specificity of these materials [23].
Figure 6. displays the PPE equipment for handling nanomaterials
Figure 7. using filtering face pieces-3 or (FFP3)- respiratory protection with a nominal protection
factor (NPF) ≥ 30.
Source: Ref. [22] Source: Ref. [24]
Disposal of waste nanomaterials
No specific regulations or guidelines from the Environmental protection agency (EPA) can be applied to dispose nanomaterials waste. For example, MIT and other higher education institutions frequently treat nanomaterials as hazardous [25].
The nanomaterial waste involves:
• Impurity-free nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes.
• Personal protective equipment, bench paper, tissues, etc. contaminated with nanomaterials.
• A colloidal suspension of a nanomaterial.
• Nanomaterials injected with solid or dead materials.
• Nanomaterials residues on any material or equipment.
In general, there are many institutions and individuals who dispose of nanomaterials waste in a similar way to conventional waste, without any special precautions or treatment. Therefore nano-waste
can in these cases be highly hazardous and/or chemically reactive, so it is necessary to know how to neutralize it before disposal [26].
2. Conclusions
In recent years, the use of nanomaterials and the application of nanotechnology have revealed prompt development since they have been widely utilized in several fields of science and technology. The properties of nanomaterials appear different from those of conventionally sized objects. To work safely with these materials requires taking appropriate measures in accordance with the new properties of these materials in the nano state, especially the toxicity of these materials. It also requires knowledge of the nature of personal protection requirements and their provision. In general, waste nanomaterials are considered as hazardous component. The safety of workers and the workplace need to be prioritized in which safety comes first.
3. Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the Al-Nahrain University for their support and encouragement.
4. Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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