Qualitative and Semiquantitative Assessment of Exposure to Engineered Nanomaterials within the French EpiNano Program: Inter- and Intramethod Reliability Study

Abstract

The relatively recent development of industries working with nanomaterials has created challenges for exposure assessment. In this article, we propose a relatively simple approach to assessing nanomaterial exposures for the purposes of epidemiological studies of workers in these industries. This method consists of an onsite industrial hygiene visit of facilities carried out individually and a description of workstations where nano-objects and their agglomerates and aggregates (NOAA) are present using a standardized tool, the Onsite technical logbook. To assess its reliability, we implemented this approach for assessing exposure to NOAA in workplaces at seven workstations which synthesize and functionalize carbon nanotubes. The prediction of exposure to NOAA using this method exhibited substantial agreement with that of the reference method, the latter being based on an onsite group visit, an expert's report and exposure measurements (Cohen kappa = 0.70, sensitivity = 0.88, specificity = 0.92). Intramethod comparison of results for exposure prediction showed moderate agreement between the three evaluators (two program team evaluators and one external evaluator) (weighted Fleiss kappa = 0.60, P = 0.003). Interevaluator reliability of the semiquantitative exposure characterization results was excellent between the two evaluators from the program team (Spearman rho = 0.93, P = 0.03) and fair when these two evaluators' results were compared with the external evaluator's results. The project was undertaken within the framework of the French epidemiological surveillance program EpiNano. This study allowed a first reliability assessment of the EpiNano method. However, to further validate this method a comparison with robust quantitative exposure measurement data is necessary.

Methodological, political and legal issues in the assessment of the effects of nanotechnology on human health

“…1122 In contrast, small-scale ENM production companies and start-ups were willing to participate in the EpiNano program, despite limited resources and personnel. 212324 It was observed that participation of small companies strongly depends on certain factors related to the employer: its sensitivity towards potential, still unknown risks of ENM; its degree of responsibility for its employees; its concern about losing proprietary information; its availability to participate; and the social climate in the company. 21…”

“…Moreover, the data declared by the eligible companies did not make it possible to identify exposed workers or to estimate their exposure even qualitatively. 2124 Corporate engagement will require discussions with companies represented in the programme consortium, as well as labour, governmental public health and research organisations. 30 Multisource project funding is also, at least for large companies, an element to consider.…”

Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nanofibres: More Than a Cobweb

“…Field studies have focused on the release of CNTs/CNFs in the workplace atmosphere rather than on individual exposure [50,79]. The lack of harmonization in measurement strategies, analysis, and reporting of measurement data hinders exposure and risk assessments.…”

Vers une méthode opérationnelle d’évaluation de l’exposition aux aérosols de nanoparticules par l’intégration de l’activité de travail à la mesure

“…Il est nécessaire de souligner que la méthode a tenu compte du retour d'expérience du projet EpiNano (Santé Publique France) et du Carnet d'Observation Technique élaboré dans ce contexte [7] [8]. Ces informations sont indispensables à la description des situations de travail multifactorielles et à l'identification de paramètres influençant l'exposition.…”