Health & Safety Laboratory, Health & Safety Executive NanoAlert Service, Issue 1, December 2006. http://www.hse.gov.uk/horizons/nanotech/nanoalert001.pdf.
The only negative thing to say about this report is that its ignores the toxicological impacts on the environment. It is about two issues: measurement, characterization, and control of exposure and potential toxic effects of nanoparticles in humans (p. 2). You might want to check the criteria for screening the search results (p. 3 and Appendix 5.2).
Regarding measurement, exposure and control, the reports selected 285 papers and categorizes them (p. 4). I was surprised and found the 11 papers on control techniques reported in the environmental waste industry worth a follow-up. The report has no qualms about stating "the instruments monitoring mass, number or surface area concentration are not capable of measuing in real-time the level of engineered nanoparticles and discriminating them from by-product aerosol entering the workplace from outside" (p. 13). I also liked the how the bibliography was presented under separate categories (pp. 18-20) adding to the value of the report as a guide for research. As this field is very challenging to me, I appreciate the effort taken to present the material usefully.
Regarding health effects, the report focuses on human effect of engineered nanoparticles. Most of the data comes from in vivo animal studies but that is to be expected. Once again, as expected, there remains too little data on translocation of nanoparticles which is not an indictment of the report just an indictment of research to date. Thanks for the bibliography (pp. 32-37).
This project should be encouraged and I am waiting for the next issue.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
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