BookGurumurthy Ramachandran, editor.
Summary: The book represents a systematic look at nanoparticle risks within the paradigm of risk assessment, consider the limitations of this paradigm in dealing with the extreme uncertainties regarding many aspects of nanoparticle exposure and toxicity, and suggest new methods for assessing and managing risks in this context. It considers the occupational environment where the potential for human exposure is the greatest as well as the issues relevant to occupational exposure assessment (e.g., the exposure metric) and the evidence from toxicological and epidemiological studies. A chapter is devoted to how conventional risk assessment can be carried out for a candidate nanoparticle (e.g., carbon nanotubes), and the limitations that arise from this approach. The authors propose several alternate methods in another chapter including screening assessments and adapting the rich methodological literature on the use of experts for risk assessment. Another chapter deals with non-occupational populations, their susceptibilities, and life-cycle risk assessments. There is a chapter on current risk management and regulatory oversight frameworks and their adequacy. This chapter also includes a discussion of US and EU approaches to risk assessment, as well as corporate approaches.
Contents:
1. Challenges in Nanoparticle Risk Assessment
2. Assessing Exposures to Nanomaterials in the Occupational Environment
3. Hazard and Risk Assessment of Workplace Exposure to Engineered Nanoparticles: Methods, Issues, and Carbon Nanotube Case Study
4. Pulmonary Bioassay Methods for Evaluating Hazards Following Exposures to Nanoscale or Fine Particulate Materials
5. Using Expert Judgment for Risk Assessment
6. Risk Assessment Using Control Banding
7. Controlling Nanoparticle Exposures
Addressing the Risks of Nanomaterials under United States and European Union Regulatory Frameworks for Chemicals.