Nanotechnology

On September 10-11, 2012, the Nanotechnology Panel co-sponsored a workshop with the George Washington University (GWU) on “Strategies for Setting Occupational Exposure Limits for Engineered Nanomaterials.” The workshop summary was recently published in the journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology and is available free of charge on the journal’s website. » View the Full Report

The workshop agenda and presentations are available below.

Welcome and Opening Remark

George Gray, Ph.D., George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services

Session 1 – Engineered Nanomaterial OELs – Defining The Need and Desirable Workshop Outcomes

Moderator: George Gray

• Industry Perspectives
  • Raymond David, Ph.D., BASF Corporation
  • Steve Gordon, Ph.D., 3M Company
• Government Perspectives
  • Sally Tinkle, Ph.D., National Nanotechnology Coordination Office
  • Janet Carter, Ph.D., OSHA
• Academic and NGO Perspectives
  • Terry Gordon, Ph.D., New York University, ACGIH TLV Committee
  • Darius Sivin, Ph.D., United Auto Workers

Session 2 – What Should Trigger the Need for Setting an OEL for an Engineered Nanomaterial (if one already exists for the bulk material)?

Moderator: Alison Elder, Ph.D., University of Rochester

• Are particle size-related OELs really necessary or practical?
  • Shaun Clancy, Ph.D., Evonik Degussa Corporation
• Which nanomaterial properties and dose metrics are relevant for setting OELs?
  • Gunter Oberdörster, Ph.D., University of Rochester
• Mysteries of the biotic-abiotic interface
  • Christopher Weis, Ph.D., NIEHS

Session 3 – Approaches Used and Proposed for Setting OELs for Engineered Nanomaterials

Moderator: Steve Gordon

• Overview of nanomaterial OEL development approaches
  • Paul Schulte, Ph.D., NIOSH
• Setting OELs using an in vitro parallelogram approach
  • Mark Maier, Ph.D., Valspar Corporation
• A benchmark / safety factor approach for setting OELs for nanomaterials
  • Tee L. Guidotti, MD, MPH, National Medical Advisory Services

Session 4 - Categorical OELs for Engineered Nanomaterials

Moderator: Philip Sayre, Ph.D., U.S. EPA

• Toxicology challenges of grouping nanomaterials
  • Vincent Castranova, Ph.D., NIOSH
• A weight-of-evidence approach for setting OELs for poorly soluble, low-toxicity nanoparticles
  • Jürgen Pauluhn, Ph.D., Bayer Schering Pharma AG
• Are categorical OELs for nanomaterials a good idea? If so, how broadly or narrowly can they be applied?
  • David Warheit, Ph.D., DuPont

Session 5 – Comparing Methods Used and Proposed for Setting OELs for Engineered Nanomaterials – Advantages, Limitations, Data Requirements and Research Needs

Moderator: Ken Martinez, NIOSH

• Traditional quantitative substance-by-substance methods
  • Alison Elder, Ph.D., University of Rochester
• Categorical methods based on comparative toxicity and mode of action information
  • Eileen Kuempel, Ph.D., NIOSH
• Correspondence between in vitro and short term in vivo response data based on target cell dosimetry
  • Brian Thrall, Ph.D., Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Session 6 – Practical Workplace Issues Related to Setting and Using Engineered Nanomaterial OELs

Moderator: Candace Tsai, Ph.D., U. Mass Lowell

• Dose metrics, air sampling and analytical methods for nanomaterials
  • Candace Tsai, Ph.D., U. Mass Lowell
• Evolution of nanomaterial exposure assessment practice at NIOSH
  • Ken Martinez, NIOSH
• Nanoparticle exposure in the workplace
  • Michele L. Ostraat, Ph.D, RTI International
• Summary of the Exposure Measurements Global Harmonization Workgroup
  • Laura Hodson, MSPH, NIOSH

Session 7 – Workshop Overview and Next Steps – General Discussion

Moderators: Janet Carter and Terry Gordon

• Key Issues Raised, Areas of Consensus, Remaining Questions
• Plans for Preparing Workshop Proceedings/Report
• Opportunities for International Collaboration
• Future Meetings/Workshops

Concluding Remarks

George Gray