NEWSWATCH

NIOSH Examines Occupational Exposure to Silver Nanomaterials

A new NIOSH draft Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB), “Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Silver Nanomaterials,” assesses the current scientific literature on occupational exposures to silver dust and fume and the associated health effects. The draft document also contains a review and assessment of literature on the toxicological effects of exposure to silver nanoparticles in experimental animal and cellular systems. Also included in the draft CIB is the evidence basis to evaluate the adequacy of NIOSH’s current recommended exposure limit (REL) for silver metal dust and soluble compounds of 10 μg/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average airborne concentration (total mass sample). “NIOSH recommends that effective risk management control practices be implemented so that worker exposures to silver nanomaterials do not exceed the NIOSH REL,” the draft CIB reads. “NIOSH recommends additional prudent measures including conducting workplace exposure and hazard assessments and medical surveillance of workers potentially exposed to silver nanomaterials.” For more information, view the draft CIB in the Federal Register.