Engineered nanomaterials at workplace: An overview of the state of the art

The nanometric scale reveals unexpected properties of materials, and often completely different from those of the same materials at the micro- or macro-scales. Occupational exposures to engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) concern workers in research laboratories, manufacturing plants or sites of use of ENMs, the number of which remains unknown to date. Besides, significant quantities of ENMs are deployed yearly nationwide in a wide variety of sectors, according to R-Nano mandatory annual reporting register for ENMs (R-Nano Report). In parallel, several experimental studies, although scattered and still incomplete, sometimes even contradictory, suggest deleterious biological effects for certain families of ENMs. Uncertainties therefore remain on the risks potentially generated by some ENMs. Furthermore, metrological challenges persist for the assessment of exposures. However, despite this context of uncertainties, the prevention of occupational risks in workers exposed to ENMs is essential, and the existing regulations in terms of prevention of occupational risks remain applicable under the responsibility of employers. Professional national guidelines are made available to employers and occupational health services by the French National Research and Safety Institute for the Prevention of Occupational Accidents and Diseases (INRS) as well as the High Council for Public Health (HCSP). In addition, health monitoring (national EpiNano epidemiological surveillance system) is essential to provide convincing data concerning the health risks of workers potentially exposed to ENMs. This manuscript, written by a multidisciplinary group, provides an overview of the state of the art related to ENMs.