Particle release and control of worker exposure during laboratory-scale synthesis, handling and simulated spills of manufactured nanomaterials in fume hoods

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 48 - 15
• Main Authors: Fonseca, Ana S., Kuijpers, Eelco, Kling, Kirsten I., Levin, Marcus, Koivisto, Antti J., Nielsen, Signe H., Fransman, W., Fedutik, Yijri, Jensen, Keld A., Koponen, Ismo K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Airborne sensing; Breathing; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copper; Ejection; Exposure; Facilities planning; Fume cupboards; Heat recovery systems; Inhalation; Inorganic Chemistry; Laboratories; Lasers; Materials Science; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Occupational exposure; Optical Devices; Optics; Oxides; Packaging; Personnel management; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Powder; Research Paper; Respiration; Silica; Silica fume; Silicon dioxide; Simulation; Spillage; Spills; Synthesis; Titanium dioxide; Zinc oxide; Zirconia; Zirconium dioxide; Fume hood; Environmental health and safety issues; Nanomaterial handling; Nanomaterial synthesis; Exposure assessment; Airborne nanoparticles; Emissions
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-018-4136-3

Fume hoods are one of the most common types of equipment applied to reduce the potential of particle exposure in laboratory environments. A number of previous studies have shown particle release during work with nanomaterials under fume hoods. Here, we assessed laboratory workers’ inhalation exposure during synthesis and handling of CuO, TiO 2 and ZnO in a fume hood. In addition, we tested the capacity of a fume hood to prevent particle release to laboratory air during simulated spillage of different powders (silica fume, zirconia TZ-3Y and TiO 2 ). Airborne particle concentrations were measured in near field, far field, and in the breathing zone of the worker. Handling CuO nanoparticles increased the concentration of small particles (< 58 nm) inside the fume hood (up to 1 × 10 5  cm −3 ). Synthesis, handling and packaging of ZnO and TiO 2 nanoparticles did not result in detectable particle release to the laboratory air. Simulated powder spills showed a systematic increase in the particle concentrations inside the fume hood with increasing amount of material and drop height. Despite powder spills were sometimes observed to eject into the laboratory room, the spill events were rarely associated with notable release of particles from the fume hood. Overall, this study shows that a fume hood generally offers sufficient exposure control during synthesis and handling of nanomaterials. An appropriate fume hood with adequate sash height and face velocity prevents 98.3% of particles release into the surrounding environment. Care should still be made to consider spills and high cleanliness to prevent exposure via resuspension and inadvertent exposure by secondary routes.