Filling the Knowledge Gaps for Safe Nanotechnology in the Workplace

With any new or emerging technology, the greatest period of uncertainty about hazards and associated risks generally occurs in the early stages of development. This is true for engineered nanomaterials, where exposures to the pure and most concentrated form are most likely to occur in the workplace during the research, manufacture, or use of these materials. In 2004, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) established the Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC) to address the occupational safety and health concerns that might be associated with this new technology. Through the NTRC, NIOSH forged partnerships with other government agencies, countries, academia, industry, labor, and nongovernmental organizations to conduct research on the potential workplace implications and the beneficial applications of nanotechnology.