Synergist - August 2010

and health duties. Some field experts and laboratories are jointly analyzing materials and substances for reasons other than regulatory compliance. Often, the data from these analyses can be used to make informed decisions regarding the appropriate use of controls, work practices or distribution of certain materials. Some new work areas in which industrial hygienists are involved include nanotechnology, consumer products, pharmaceutical/health care and toxicity/ hazard fields.

Nanotechnology

Sampling and analyzing engineered particles containing nano-structures (features less than 100 nanometers in size) have many challenges. Mass-based analysis and direct-read methods might not detect nano-structure particles in a workplace.1,2 Evaluation of filter-based samples using high-resolution electron microscopy techniques can verify the presence of engineered nano-structures containing particles of interest by using appropriate reference samples for comparison.

As a result of recent advances in electron microscopy instruments, such as scanning transmission electron microscopes (STEM), particles can be studied at higher magnifications, surface detail and elemental spatial resolution than with traditional transmission electron microscopes.

Consumer Products

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued legislation and guidance documents regarding the levels of heavy metals in coatings and plastics as well as certain plasticizers (phthalates) used in plastics. The coatings regulation is intended so that a single color and layer is subject to regulation. Laboratories are challenged with issues related to isolating a single layer for testing from finished products, and obtaining enough sample to weigh for evaluation. Other challenges result when using X-ray fluorescence direct-read instruments to analyze sparsely distributed thin coatings, as sample issues may result in a false positive. There are also complexities when performing sample reduction and extractions of various plastics for plasticizers. These issues provide

opportunities for laboratories and consultants to make expert judgments and further the science.

Pharmaceutical and Health Care The pharmaceutical and health-care industries create new opportunities to evaluate occupational and environmental exposures to the increasing number of new and existing drug formulations. New and investigational formulations may create potential exposures in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Oncology pharmacists and nurses, housekeeping staff, and patients and visitors in hospitals and outpatient treatment centers may be exposed to hazardous chemotherapy medications. Pharmaceutical compounds have been found in our water supplies; customized analytical methods may be required for detecting them in environmental and biological samples. Industrial hygienists and environmental health and safety professionals must carefully choose laboratories based on credentials and must work in tandem with laboratory experts to determine appropriate methods.

Toxicity and Hazard

There are many opportunities for indus-
trial hygiene professionals to work with
laboratory specialists and toxicologists
to evaluate the hazards of many sub-
stances. For instance, just because a sub-
stance contains toxic heavy metals does
not necessarily mean that it is haz-
ardous. Laboratories can provide options
for consideration, such as the execution
of sequential extractions at body temper-
ature conditions to evaluate solubility, or
use advanced analyses techniques to de-
termine compound-specific information.
Evaluation of particulates can be used to
assess toxicity. Particulate analyses using
electron microscopy can provide infor-
mation about size, shape, agglomeration,
crystalline structure and distribution,
which can be used as parameters to eval-
uate toxicity. This information can help
professionals make expert decisions for
evaluating relative toxicity parameters
and hazards.

The Flexible Lab

Today’s laboratory business and its relationship with the always-important customer, the industrial hygienist, can be flexible and open to change while maintaining quality. Industrial hygienists are encouraged to work with their laboratories to broaden horizons and begin investigative studies that may establish guidelines for the next generation.

KeithP.Rickabaugh,MBA,BS,isthetechnicaldi-rectorofMaterialandAnalyticalServicesatRJLee Group,Inc.Hecanbereachedat krickabaugh@rjlg.com.

MatthewD.Zock,MS,isaprojectmanagerandin-dustrial hygienist in Technical Consulting Services at RJLeeGroup,Inc.Hecanbereachedat mzock@rjlg.com.

References

1. Methner, M., Hodson, L., and Geraci, C.: “Nanoparticle emission assessment technique (NEAT) for the identification and measurement of potential inhalation exposure to engineered nanomaterials —Part A.” J. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 7:127– 132 (2010).

2. Methner, M., Hodson, L., Dames, A. and Geraci, C.: “Nanoparticle emission assessment technique (NEAT) for the identification and measurement of potential inhalation exposure to engineered nanomaterials—Part B: Results from 12 Field Studies.” J. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 7:163–176 (2010).