A definition and categorization system for advanced materials : the foundation for risk-informed environmental health and safety testing

Novel materials with unique or enhanced properties relative to conventional materials are being developed at an increasing rate. These materials are often referred to as advanced materials (AdMs) and they enable technological innovations that can benefit society. Despite their benefits, however, the unique characteristics of many AdMs, including many nanomaterials, are poorly understood and may pose environmental safety and occupational health (ESOH) risks that are not readily determined by traditional risk assessment methods. To assess these risks while keeping up with the pace of development, technology developers and risk assessors frequently employ risk-screening methods that depend on a clear definition for the materials that are to be assessed (e.g., engineered nanomaterial) as well as a method for binning materials into categories for ESOH risk prioritization. In this study, we aim to establish a practitioner-driven definition for AdMs and a practitioner-validated framework for categorizing AdMs into conceptual groupings based on material characteristics. The definition and categorization framework established here serve as a first step in determining if and when there is a need for specific ESOH and regulatory screening for an AdM as well as the type and extent of risk-related information that should be collected or generated for AdMs and AdM-enabled technologies.

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A Definition and Categorization System for Advanced Materials: The Foundation for Risk‐Informed Environmental Health and Safety Testing

Risk Analysis ◽

10.1111/risa.13304 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (8) ◽

pp. 1783-1795 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alan Kennedy ◽

Jonathon Brame ◽

Taylor Rycroft ◽

Matthew Wood ◽

Valerie Zemba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Health ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Advanced Materials ◽

Environmental Health And Safety ◽

Safety Testing ◽

Categorization System

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Tiered guidance for risk-informed environmental health and safety testing of nanotechnologies

Journal of Nanoparticle Research ◽

10.1007/s11051-015-2943-3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Zachary A. Collier ◽

Alan J. Kennedy ◽

Aimee R. Poda ◽

Michael F. Cuddy ◽

Robert D. Moser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Health ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Environmental Health And Safety ◽

Safety Testing

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Using a Quality-Driven Approach to Maintain an N-95 Respirator Supply During a Pandemic-Driven Global Shortage

Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ash.2021.92 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (S1) ◽

pp. s48-s49

Author(s):

Amy Selimos ◽

Mark Buchanan ◽

Lauren DiBiase ◽

Stephen Dean ◽

Pat Boone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Team Approach ◽

Environmental Health And Safety ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Testing Method ◽

Academic Medical ◽

Fit Testing ◽

Categorization System

Background: Reports of hospitals overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients created severe shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE). In this large academic medical system, we used a systematic team approach to proactively maintain an adequate PPE supply. The team consisted of staff from multiple departments including infection prevention, environmental health and safety, operational efficiency, and supply chain. The healthcare system solicited donations of PPE, and our team was tasked with developing a sustainable method to provide healthcare workers with safe and effective N-95 respirators. Respirators are normally fitted to our 6,000+ healthcare workers through a fit-testing process using 4 models of N-95s. We received >60 models, many in small quantities, posing a new level of complexity that prevented use of our typical fit-testing method. Methods: Donated respirators were manually verified on the CDC/NIOSH website to validate approval or approved alternative. A categorization system was developed, and respirators were sorted based on quality, style, and condition. User seal checks replaced qualitative fit testing due to the uncertain and quickly changing respirator supply. Staff were educated about the importance of performing a seal check to evaluate respirator fit and were provided instructions for what to do if they failed a seal check. We performed limited quantitative fit testing on a small group previously fit tested to 1 of the 4 models of N-95s normally stocked to identify the most effective alternative respirators to serve as substitute N-95s. Results: We were able to provide staff with new N-95s and delay the release of reprocessed N-95s. Overall, 18 models of respirators were tested on staff for filtration effectiveness and fit. We deemed 61% masks to be of last resort, and these were not released. We determined that 39% were acceptable as an alternative for at least 1 of our usual respirator models. However, only 3 models (17%) available in small quantities fit wearers whose size was in shortest supply. This scarcity led to the evaluation and purchase of a new respirator prototype for small N-95 wearers, which was an important success of our team’s work and for staff safety. Conclusions: Collaboration between teams from a variety of backgrounds, using both qualitative and quantitative data, resulted in a sustainable method for receiving, sorting, and evaluating donated N-95 respirators, ensuring the delivery of a steady supply of effective N-95 respirators to our staff. This quality-driven approach was an efficient and effective strategy to maintain our N-95 respirator supply during a pandemic driven global shortage.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

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Microplastic regulation should be more precise to incentivize both innovation and environmental safety

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-12732 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Denise Mitrano ◽

Wendel Wohlleben

Keyword(s):

Health And Safety ◽

Environmental Safety ◽

Solid Polymer ◽

Environmental Health And Safety ◽

Quality Cost ◽

Environmentally Conscious ◽

Safety Regulations ◽

Number Of Factors ◽

Significant Performance ◽

Remote Sites

<p>Numerous studies have made the ubiquitous presence of plastic in the environment undeniable, and thus it no longer comes as a surprise when scientists monitor the accumulation of macroplastic litter and microplastic fragments in both urban and remote sites. The presence of plastic in the environment has sparked considerable discussion amongst scientists, regulators and the general public as to how industrialization and consumerism is shaping our world. Restrictions on the intentional use of primary microplastics, small solid polymer particles in applications ranging from agriculture to cosmetics, are under discussion globally, despite uncertain microplastic hazards and prioritization amongst options for action. In some instances, replacements are technically simple and easily justified, but in others substitutions may come with more uncertainty such as significant performance questions and monetary costs. Scientific impact assessment of primary microplastics compared to their alternatives relies on a number of factors including, but not limited to, microplastic harm, existence of replacement materials, and the quality, cost and hazards of alternate materials. Here we assess the scope, effectiveness and utility of microplastic regulations with specific emphasis on the new definitions proposed by ECHA for restriction of primary microplastics under REACH. To this end, we aim to 1) provide a systematic orientation of the polymer universe, to appreciate which (micro)plastic characteristics are relevant, measurable and enforceable, 2) cluster specific uses of solid plastic to highlight how primary microplastic can add to issues of environmental pollution and human health, 3) evaluate drivers leading to regulations and their potential for enforceability and impact and 4) suggest priority cases where regulations should be focused and precision increased to incentivize innovation of sustainable materials and promote environmental health and safety. Regulations need a precise focus and must be enforceable by measurements. Policy must carefully evaluate under which contexts microplastic use may be warranted and where incentives to replace certain microplastics can stimulate innovation of new, more competitive and environmentally conscious materials.&#160;</p>

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