IRSST - Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail

Contribution of nanoscopy to the sampling and physicochemical characterization of nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanotechnologies are growing and should generate, in 2008, a global income evaluated at more than 700 billion euros. Their emergence is, however, accompanied with potential risks for workers’ health. The toxicity of nanoparticles seems to be related to their surface area rather than their mass, and that is why their size could have a significant impact. Nanometric particles would therefore be more likely to go deep into the respiratory tract, and hence the importance of characterizing them and determining their concentration based on their size in workplace air. By means of this study, the researchers are attempting to evaluate the complementarity of the characterizations of the nanoparticles obtained by electronic microscopy and by different impactors, in relation to exposure. This research is funded by the Agence française de sécurité sanitaire de l'environnement et du travail (AFSSET, French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety).

Additional Information

Type: Project
Number: 0099-7260
Status: Completed
Year of completion: 2009
Team:
  • Joseph Zayed (Université de Montréal)
  • Gilles L'Espérance (Polytechnique Montréal)
  • Ginette Truchon (IRSST)
  • Yves Cloutier (IRSST)
  • Greg Kennedy (Polytechnique Montréal)