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Nanoparticle Handling Guidelines
Background
Nanoparticles are ultrafine particles measuring between 1-100
nanometers (nm) in one
dimension. In addition to the novel size of nanoparticles or
structures, uses are also derivedfrom the composition of the
nanoparticles, which can be chemical or biological. oncerns
withsafet! regarding the use of nanotechnolog! have arisen
primaril! from the recognition of severaluni"ue attributes of
nanoparticles#
$he ultra-small particle size permits the particles to be
carried deepl! into tissues.
%articles ma! be deepl! respired into the lungs, ma! pass
through the blood-brainbarrier& or translocate between
organs.
$he molecular structure of nanoparticles and the relativel!
greater surface area confer
on these particles different chemical and biological
reactivities than larger structuresmade from the same elements or
molecules.
'lthough insufficient information eists to predict the heath
hazard posed b! the eposure tonanoparticles, and such effects will
var! depending on the composition of the nanoparticles,current
research indicates that eposure via inhalation and sin contact can
result in theseparticles entering the bod!. *esults from human and
animal studies show inhaled nanoparticlescan deposit in the
respirator! tract. 'nimal studies also show nanoparticles can enter
thebloodstream and translocate to other organs. Nanoparticles have
the greatest potential to enterthe bod! if the! become airborne or
come into contact with the sin, e!es or mucousmembranes. +ome
evidence suggests that nanoparticles ma! be more toic to tissues
thanlarger molecular structures. posure to nanoparticles carr!ing
genetic material ma! result ingenetic or immunologic effects.
posure to nanoparticles carr!ing infectious agents ma!cause
infectious diseases.
NI+, the NI, and the %' promote the incorporation of cautionar!
measures in research tominimize or eliminate eposures to
nanoparticles. 'ccording to NI+, the following worplacetass ma!
increase the ris of eposure to nanoparticles#
$ /oring with nanoparticles in li"uid media without ade"uate
protection (e.g., gloves, safet!
glasses) will increase the ris of sin or e!e eposure.$ /oring
with nanoparticles in li"uid media during pouring or miing
operations, or where a
high degree of agitation is involved, will lead to an increased
lielihood of inhalation ofrespirable droplets which ma! be
formed.
$ enerating nanoparticles in the gas phase in non-enclosed
s!stems will increase the
chances of aerosol release to the worplace.
$ andling nano-structured powders will lead to the possibilit!
of aerosolization.
Control Procedures
/hile the health riss from eposure to nanoparticles are not well
nown and will var!depending on the composition of the particles,
wor practices and engineering controlprocedures to prevent eposure
are well understood. $he following are minimum engineering,wor
practice and ventilation controls re"uired when handling
nanoparticles to reduce potentialeposure#
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$ ab coats must be worn. ab coats must be laundered using
2niversit! provided lab coat
laundr! services. ab coats ma! not be taen to private homes and
laundered.$ loves must be worn when handling nanomaterials. 3ecause
sin penetration is a concern,
gloves must cover the wrist and an! sin on the arm eposed b! the
lab coat.$ 'rm sleeves are re"uired where high levels of eposure or
splashes of solutions containing
nanoparticles are anticipated.$ +tandard safet! glasses should
be worn.
$ /henever possible, wor should be performed in a chemical fume
hood or biological safet!
cabinet. /hen wor with nanoparticles must be performed outside a
hood or cabinet, safet!goggles instead of safet! glasses should be
worn to prevent e!e eposure. *espiratorsma! be re"uired for
activities that cannot be controlled using ventilation.
o 4r! nano-materials must be handled in a fume hood or
biological safet! cabinet.
/or on the open bench with dr! nanoparticles is not allowed.o
'erosol producing activities (such as sonication, vorteing and
centrifuging) ma! not
be conducted on the open bench.o 'ctivities that are liel! to
release nanoparticles (such as the opening and empt!ing
of tubes, weighing of dr! nano particles) shall not be performed
on the open bench.
o +olutions containing nanoparticles should be handled over
disposable bench covers.$ $ransport of dr! nanoparticles should
occur in closed containers.
$ and washing facilities must be provided in all labs. and
washing must be performed after
handling nano-materials.$ 3ench tops and other surfaces should
be cleaned after each wor activit! using a cleaning
solution suitable for the t!pe of nanoparticles being used.$
'dministration of nanoparticles using needles5s!ringes should be
done using a safe needle
device whenever available. +uch devices minimize the potential
for a needlestic either b!having a sliding sheath or guard that
covers needle after use or having a retraction featurewhich
isolates the needle inside the s!ringe. nl! needle-locing s!ringes
or disposables!ringe-needle units (i.e., needle is integral to the
s!ringe) ma! be used for the in6ection ofnanoparticles containing
recombinant 4N' molecules.
OUHSC Committee Approvals
%rotocols involving the administration of nanoparticles to
animals re"uires Institutional 'nimalare and 2se ommittee (I'2)
approval. 4epending on the composition of thenanoparticles, +ection
7 (for nanoparticles carr!ing genetic material) or +ection N (for
all othernanoparticles) must be completed on the I'2 form. +tandard
perating %rocedures (+%s)for the preparation and administration of
the nanoparticles must be developed and submitted inthe appropriate
section of the form.
%rotocols involving the administration of nanoparticles
containing genetic material to eitheranimals or humans re"uires
Institutional 3iosafet! ommittee (I3) approval. +%s for the
preparation and administration of the nanoparticles must be
developed and submitted with theprotocol.
%rotocols involving the administration of nanoparticles to
humans re"uires Institutional *eview3oard (I*3)approval.
$he guidelines given in this document are minimum precautions.
3ecause the composition anduse of nanoparticles will var! from
pro6ect to pro6ect, additional precautions or procedures ma!
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