Current knowledge about nanotechnology safety

This review paper provides insight into the risk faced by laboratory workers from suspected nanoparticle hazards. The potential hazard and risk is examined with respect to the dermal, inhalation, and ingestion pathways into the human body. Based on the current understanding, the risks are presented qualitatively from a system safety perspective as a function of likelihood and consequence. Without protective equipment, the likelihood of dermal exposure for carbon nanoparticles is high, but is low and very low for inhalation and ingestion pathways, respectively. The consequence for dermal exposure is likely to be dermatitis, but for the other two pathways there has been no clear evidence of any consequence. However, the consequences will be better judged after nanotechnology has had time to establish itself and more studies have been performed on the toxicological effects of nanoparticles. The surveyed papers propose that because nanoparticles vary in their chemical composition and biological and immunological properties, the risks posed by them also vary. Thus, each nanomaterial should be assessed individually for its health risks