DOE Nanoscale R&D Environment, Safety and Health

1. DOE Nanoscale R&D Environment, Safety and Health Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee February 21, 2008 Randy Ogle, CIH, CSP, CHMM Operations and ES&H Manager Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences Oak Ridge National Laboratory

2. Late 50s: Feynman visualized synthesis from the atomic level 1980s: Enabled by advances in microscopy Mid-80s: Smalley et al. discovered Buckyballs 1990s: Carbon nanotubes Interagency Working Group on Nanotechnology (IWGN) 1st nanorobotics – Zyvex 2000: Clinton announces the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) NNI participants: NSF, Commerce, Energy, Defense, etc. 2002: Michael Crichton’s novel Prey is a best-seller 2003: 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, signed by President Bush in December Congressional hearings on ESH Aspects of Nanotechnologies Nanoscale R&D: Great Potential, Good Funding, Big (ES&H) Questions

3. Steering U.S. Activities DOE SC/BES plays a leading role Funding R&D Funding Environment, Safety and Health R&D, largely toxicity testing The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NANO.GOV)

4. The human experience with nanoparticles in air -- we have evolved in an atmosphere of “Nanomaterials” Size and material characteristics relate to ES&H Potential effects include increased toxicity, flammability, and reactivity Controlling nanoparticle exposures is straightforward Remember: RISK is a function of the degree of Hazard (e.g., toxicity) and Exposure Perception and communication are important! What Do We Know About Nanoparticle Safety? Nanotechnology could revolutionize science, technology, medicine, and space exploration. Nanotechnology could ravage the environment, eliminate jobs, and lead to frightening new weapons of war. Those are two extreme takes on the hottest, and potentially most controversial, new technology since biotech and PCs.S.F. Chronicle

5. Fumes (50-200+nm), combustion products, and silicon carbide-whiskers Zinc and Manganese fumes versus particulates Asbestos Diesel Exhaust The ambient air; environmental soup we live in Natural sources of nanomaterials -- fires, volcanoes, and natural smog Nano in homes offices (1000-100K P/cc) Examples of Historical Human Exposures to Nanoparticles

6. Toxicity – Emerging Information • Depends on chemistry, morphology, surface charges, etc. • Probably relates to particle surface area especially for insoluble/low soluble • Benign residence • Free radicals (in vitro) • Increased inflammatory response (in vivo) • Translocation to target organs (rodents) • Allergic asthma symptoms • Aggravate symptoms of pneumonia • Cardiac effect - 2 days later

7. Size Is Important! Surface area as dominant characteristic contributing to toxicity is plausible

8. Agglomeration a function of time (de-agglomeration??) Enclosed reactors Ventilation Encapsulated in processes HEPAs work Polymer gloves work Tyvek works HEPA Respirators work (provide as last resort) Bio-monitoring Occupational, Safety, and Health Administration (OSHA) listed soluble toxins Controllingthe Nano-hazards

9. Safety and the DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers

10. Integrated Safety Management (ISM) followed from inception in the NSRCs Upper-level support, grass roots participation NSRCs: Designed to accommodate the planned R&D ES&H and projected R&D staff designed individual labs and controls Used experience, benchmarking, and best available control technologies R&D Safety within DOE and Specifically in the Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRC)

11. Shared construction safety experiences Shared information on Nanosafety 2003: Operations/ES&H people began informal teleconferences with BES-ES&H Coordinated by Ken Rivera, BES-ES&H Began developing Guidelines for Nanosafety Began informal communications with Andrew Maynard and Mark Hoover, NIOSH Today - a chartered (by NSRC Directors) activity Members are involved in consensus standards development The NSRCs collaborated on design and execution, including environmental, safety, and health issues

12. NSRC laboratories are User facilities Safety programs and training are tailored to Users ES&H for R&D includes substantial interactions with subject matter experts and planning NSRC research staff are integral Interactions with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) NSRC visits and discussion of protocol Expansion to collaboration through User Projects Need for well-characterized Nanoscale materials To the extent possible, hazards are engineered out of the proposed R&D activities The currently accepted approach to nanotechnology and other new technologies is known as prudent avoidance (avoid unnecessary exposures) General Nanoscale Safety at the NSRCs

13. Safety envelopes are set for each lab, that is, limits on hazardous activities are preset and can be modified through “work planning” CNMS strictly controls access to labs HEPA systems are used for all free-nano activities CNMS ES&H has used the NSRC sampling methods to affirm safety (emissions) for current activities Guidance has been provided to CNMS staff on waste handling Nanoscale safety training has been developed and is available to all nanotech researchers Nanoscale Safety at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)(programs are similar at all NSRC Labs)

14. Nanoscale R&D is common in DOE research and at DOE Laboratories Driven by science and the potential impact on energy technology issues DOE Laboratories have a common safety program, Integrated Safety Management (ISM) Provides controls of all R&D hazards 2005: DOE issued a Nanoscale R&D Policy Statement Currently-DOE Facilities are implementing the Nanoscale R&D Policy as DOE tracks progress Nanoscale Research in DOE Today

15. DOE P 456.1, Secretarial Policy Statement On Nanoscale Safety • Conduct of Work… • DOE will: • Adopt and implement existing and future best ES&H practice (Consensus Standards) • Use ISM to identify and manage potential ES&H issues • …stay abreast of current research and guidance; ensure best current knowledge is applied to ID and Control • Support ES&H related research • All involved share responsibility for ES&H consistent with Policy

16. Other Rules and Standards: Nanosafety General Industry Occupational, Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): nonspecific, Laboratory Standard Environmental Protection Agency/Department of Transportation (EPA/DOT) Not specific to nano Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Clean Air Act (CAA) General Lab Safety Guidance Prudent Practices in the Laboratory - Handling and Disposal of Chemicals - National Research Council Consensus Standards for Nanotechnologies American Standards for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Committee E56 on Nanotechnology American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Technical Advisory Groups (TAG) and International Standards Organization (ISO) Technical Committees (TC) 229 Nanotechnologies Government Guidance: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology

17. State of Knowledge, Control Methods are Summarized in the NSRC Consensus Document • A living consensus of the NSRC ES&H • Addresses recommended control methods • Administrative, engineering and personal protective devices • Suggested methods for creation, use, transport, and disposal • Referenced research on NIOSH website • Available on line:http://orise.orau.gov/ihos/nanotechnology/nanotech_doe_nanoscale_sc.html • Summer Workshop Planned at Argonne Summer ‘08 "One document that has risen to the challenge is the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Nanoscale Science Research Centers Approach to Nanomaterial ES&H.” This is a solid document in itself, and so perhaps not surprisingly, the BSI [British Standards Institute] guide draws heavily from it—in places duplicating the DOE document verbatim." Andrew Maynard, Ph.D, Chief Science Advisor on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson Center - Safenano.org on January 18, 2008