Potential for Occupational Exposure to Engineered Carbon-Based Nanomaterials in Environmental Laboratory Studies

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0901076
• Publication Date: 2009-09-23T17:53:55Z
• Authors: David R. Johnson; Mark M. Methner; Alan J. Kennedy; Jeffery A. Steevens
• Keywords: Nanomaterials; Sonication; Particle (ecology); Carbon fibers

The potential exists for laboratory personnel to be exposed engineered carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) in studies aimed at producing conditions similar those found natural surface waters [e.g., presence of organic matter (NOM)].The goal this preliminary investigation was assess the release CNMs into atmosphere during handling and sonication environmentally relevant matrices.We measured fullerenes (C60), underivatized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (raw MWCNT), hydroxylated MWCNT (MWCNT-OH), black (CB) air as were weighed, transferred beakers filled with reconstituted freshwater, sonicated deionized water freshwater without NOM. Airborne emitted processing quantified using two hand-held particle counters that measure total number concentration per volume within nanometer range (10-1,000 nm) six specific size ranges (300-10,000 nm). Particle morphology determined by transmission electron microscopy sample filters.After correcting background concentrations, it evident increases airborne concentrations occurred each nanomaterial except CB weighing, inversely related size. Sonicating nanomaterial-spiked resulted increased nanomaterials, most notably MWCNT-OH NOM CB.Engineered can become when mixed solution sonication, especially are functionalized or containing This finding indicates workers may risk exposure nanomaterials.