At MSU, a growing number of Spartan innovators are harnessing the unique properties of nanomaterials into their research. These engineered nanomaterials, 1-100 nanometers in size, have cutting-edge applications in advanced pharmaceutical delivery, engineered materials, environmental remediation and a multitude of other ventures.
Their very small size makes them simultaneously promising and challenging. Nano-sized particles can enter the human body through inhalation, ingestion and through the skin. However, few occupational exposure limits exist specifically for nanomaterials—and those that do may not provide adequate protection for long term health effects.
If you are currently using nanomaterials, or considering their use, please contact Tyler McCord at mccordty@msu.edu or 517-432-5631 for an in-person consultation to determine appropriate safety controls. Successful safety assessments will result in the following outcomes, where possible:
Nanomaterial Safety Document (PDF)
Nanomaterial Safety SOP Form (DOCX)
Activities that are likely to release nanomaterials should not be performed on the open bench. This can include weighing dry materials, preparing suspensions, or cutting, sawing, drilling, and sanding bulk solids containing nanomaterials. These activities should be performed in a fume hood (or other vented enclosure), biological safety cabinet, glove box or a vented filtered enclosure.
Controls beyond those described above are warranted when aerosol generation of nanomaterials will be extensive, or will involve acutely hazardous parent materials. These controls might include a higher level of containment and/or HEPA-filtration or other cleaning of exhaust. For assistance with risk assessment, contact EHS at 517-355-0153.
Because there are no established exposure limits for nanomaterials, EHS uses a Control Banding strategy to determine the level of containment appropriate for a work process involving nanomaterials. Control Banding is a qualitative exposure assessment strategy employed by industrial hygienists when working with chemicals that do not have quantitative exposure limits (e.g. 5 parts per million). The Control Banding tool used by MSU EHS, CB Nanotool, aggregates information about the nanomaterial and work process to assign Severity and Probability scores. The Severity and Probability scores are plotted on the Risk Level Matrix, which contains four Risk Levels with associated control measures. An example CB Nanotool assessment for a 3D printed electronics task using a nanoparticle-containing ink is found below.
The CB Nanotool only evaluates inhalation exposure. EHS may prescribe additional controls due to other nanomaterial properties such as dermal toxicity, explosivity, and reactivity. Hazards from other chemicals used in the nanomaterial work process may also change control prescriptions.