Focus of Safety
By Diane Greenberg
Vicki Colvin
In May 2009, Vicki Colvin of Rice University gave a talk titled “Nanotechnology: Its Promise and Challenges,” which was attended by about 200 members of the Brookhaven community. Colvin is a recognized expert on social issues related to nanotechnology, and is Rice’s Kenneth S. Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, co-director of the Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology and director of the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology. The public lecture and Colvin’s subsequent meeting with Brookhaven’s Community Advisory Council was part of an effort to engage stakeholders in a discussion of the benefits and risks associated with nanotechnology.
Because the potential risks associated with nanoscience are largely unknown, the Lab has established a very conservative approach for providing a safe workplace and also protecting the environment. “Since engineered nanoparticles have unique properties and are so small in size, they may present potential hazards to health and the environment,” according to Robert Sabatini, Environment, Safety and Health (ES&H) Coordinator at the CFN.
Government agencies have not yet set occupational and environmental exposure limits for engineered nanomaterials. Naturally occurring nanomaterials can be found in forms such as ocean spray and volcanic ash, but creating engineered nanomaterials in a lab is still a relatively new endeavor. There are already products on the market as diverse as tennis racquets and sunscreen that contain engineered nanomaterials.
To protect both workers and the environment, Brookhaven follows DOE guidance concerning safe handling of nanomaterials, not just at the CFN, but also throughout the Lab’s departments. Brookhaven mandates strict controls for nanoscience research at its site that involves unbound nanoparticles — nanoparticles that are not bound to a substrate or immersed in liquid and thus could escape into the atmosphere. Controls include the use of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and closed systems such as glove boxes, which prevent nanoparticles from escaping into the atmosphere. When they are no longer efficient, HEPA filters will be disposed of as hazardous waste and replaced with new ones by appropriately trained personnel.
Brookhaven also established an Institutional Nanoscience Safety Advisory Committee, which reports to Lab Director Sam Aronson. The committee consists of scientists, support staff, safety and health managers, and other experts who meet quarterly to review changes in guidance or regulations and to make recommendations for improving nanoscience safety. In addition, the five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers across the nation collaborate on safety issues and have been recognized worldwide as leaders in nanosafety.
At any given time, about 30 experiments involving nanoparticles are being conducted at the Lab. Each proposed experiment is evaluated for safety by the Experimental Safety Review Committee to be sure it meets Brookhaven’s safety standards. The committee consists of ES&H coordinators, environmental compliance representatives, safety and health representatives, and scientific staff. ES&H professionals then perform safety inspections on a regular basis.
Further, a web-based training course is required for all researchers who work with nanomaterials on site. The course covers the Laboratory’s requirements for work planning, hazard assessment, and how to handle nanomaterials safely.
“Nanoscience has the potential to bring about and accelerate new technologies in energy, drug delivery, sensors, and industrial processes, among other advances,” Sabatini said. “While nanoscience has potential risks that must be carefully managed, it holds great promise for new technologies and breakthroughs in many fields.”
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