SCINDEEP: Safety Challenges for Industries; Dermal Exposure to nanosized Particles.

The SCINDEEP project focuses on skin exposure to nanoparticles from dust and smoke in the working atmosphere in the Norwegian metal alloy industry, for firefighters and chimney sweepers. These are professions outside the nanotechnology industry where people work in conditions where there is a risk of being exposed to nanoparticles, in this context often called ultrafine particles (UFP). Skin exposure has received little attention in these industries. The main purpose of the SCINDEEP project is to ensure effective protection against harmful health effects of skin exposure to UFP in these occupations. This will be done by addressing important aspects of risk assessment and risk management. The project group will study these problems through existing standardized methods combined with the development of new methods. The SCINDEEP project group is interdisciplinary with expertise from industrial process technology, occupational hygiene, occupational medicine, dermatology, pathology, chemistry and psychology. The results will benefit not only the industries included, but all businesses where employees handle nanomaterials. The project started in spring 2019. The result of a literature study of measurement methods for ultrafine dust in the working atmosphere showed that there are few studies on mapping exposure to UFP in the smelting industry. NSMPS (NanoScan scanning mobility particle sizer) is the only instrument that has practical properties as well as a measurement spectrum and concentration spectrum suitable for this type of measurement (Rapport, Blom and Grove 2018). We have measured UFP in the working atmosphere at smelters. We have assessed of suitable equipment, comparison of sampling strategy as well as identifying personal exposure and sources of UFP. The measurements showed that work near the molten metal was the work tasks with the highest UFP exposure. For some of the employees, the total exposure was above the recommended limit values (Master thesis Blom og Grove 2019, Jørgensen et al. Nanomaterials. 2020, 10 (12), 1-14). We have also measured UFP in the air from fire smoke during controlled training exercises at the fire service. The results show that large amounts of ultrafine particles were measured throughout the course of the fire. There were large differences in particle emissions between different types of exercises. Amount of fuel and oxygen access seem to have a large impact on both concentration and size distribution of particles. Firefighting during smoke diving exercises is difficult to study due to the use of extinguishing water and there were a number of technical challenges with the measuring equipment (Master's thesis Monstad 2021). In 2022, studies were carried out at Trondheim Feiervesen where we both studied the chimney sweepers' exposure to PAH and UFP. We were able to test portable measuring equipment for UFP for the first time. The results from this have been published (Moazami et al. 2023) and showed that the chimney sweepers are exposed to ultrafine dust particles when sweeping, and that they are exposed to PAH compounds. The quantities are usually small, but when larger facilities are to be swept, the exposure can be higher. Protective equipment is therefore important in this work. In order to investigate which particles land on the workers' skin during a working day, we have taken tape samples from exposed skin areas. These have been analyzed using a Scanning Electron Microscope, and will be processed further together with the other skin test results. In addition, we have collected blood samples and urine samples to investigate the uptake of substances from the dust and that they have answered a questionnaire to survey skin complaints. This has been done in all three industries plus a group of people who do not work in professions exposed to dust for comparison. We have been delayed due to restrictions and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The samples taken have now been analyzed for metals and other elements, and analyzes of PAHs are underway. We have started writing articles that present the results of the metal analyzes in the blood samples. In addition, an article dealing with data from questionnaires and skin examinations is under review and will soon be published. Fire constables and chimeny sweepers have also participated in focus groups to talk about what they think about their own exposure to UFP at work. What emerged in these focus groups formed the basis for a questionnaire about how they perceive risk in their job, and this was distributed to firefighters, sweepers and smelter employees. During the last two years, we have completed the data collection and analyzed the data material. We are now working on analyzing the answers that have come and will publish this in a scientific article. The smelters that have participated in this survey have been sent their results in a report.

Safety for persons working with nanomaterials has for many years been on the agenda for authorities, health workers and the nanotechnology companies. However, many persons outside the nanotechnology industry work under conditions where there is a risk of being exposed to nanosized particles, typically referred to as Ultrafine Particles (UFP). This project focuses on the Norwegian metal and mining industries and the firebrigade, which are industrial branches with known risks for UFP exposure from dust and fumes in the work atmosphere. In these industries, health- and safety focus has traditionally been directed towards respiratory protection. Dermal exposure has received little attention. The main objective for the proposed project SCINDEEP is to ensure effective protection against detrimental health consequences of dermal exposure to UFPs in these industries. This objective will be met by addressing key aspects of risk assessment and risk handling through 3 work packages: WP1 aims to quantify and characterize airborne UFP in the three industries, as well as characterization of particles attached to skin. WP2 seeks to assess the extent of dermal uptake of UFPs and associated toxic compounds and investigate the connection between exposure levels and dermal morbidity. WP3 will investigate how risk communication influence safety and behavior. In all three work packages, existing standardized methods will be combined with development of new methods. The project group is cross-scientific with expertise from the fields of industrial process technology, occupational hygiene and -medicine, dermatology, pathology, chemistry and psychology. The project will perform industrially relevant research, but at a fundamental level which cannot and will not be funded by any commercial actor. The results will benefit not only the included industries but all businesses where workers are handling nanomaterials .