Air Monitoring for Nanoscale Materials - An Update to the Sampling Protocol [POSTER]

Recent research of carbon nanotubes has found they may act like asbestos in the body, causing inflammation, lesions, and possibly cancer.  Many industries are exploiting the use of nanoscale materials, particularly carbon nanotubes due to their many uses, such as electronics, energy efficient batteries, and as a drug delivery system. A traditional industrial hygiene approach has been used to perform air monitoring to assess possible releases of nanoscale materials.  Since there are no OSHA, NIOSH, ACGIH, or other limits for nanoscale materials forthcoming, a departure from background concentrations was used to identify potential releases. This study describes the most recent industrial hygiene air monitoring protocol used at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to assess research and development use and controls of nanoscale materials, including carbon nanotubes.  This study will define the air sampling protocol, describe advantages and limitations, and provide real life examples. Key data analyzed will include particle count (using TSI condensation particle counters) and morphology (using polycarbonate filters and electron microscopy) that may be linked to toxicological effects with future study.