Current and Proposed Approaches for Managing Risks in Occupational Environments

Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) ....................................... 144 8.7 Summary ..................................................................................................... 144 References ............................................................................................................ 146

This chapter focuses on a vitally important topic: current efforts and future directives to protect workers from health hazards that may result from handling and managing nanomaterials in occupational settings. National and international governmental agencies, companies, and research organizations increasingly are recognizing the clear advantages of taking proactive steps — both to understand the potential adverse health consequences of nanomaterials, and to minimize the potential hazards from nanotechnology and nanomaterials in occupational environments (National Nanotechnology Initiative 2006; OECD 2006).