September 17 2015. Fort Worth.8th EU-US Joint Conference.Nano workgroup.
Nanomaterial regulation in EuropeCurrent workplace challenges
Caroline VerdootAdvisor, FGTB
CONTENT
Section 1. Context - Introduction
Section 2. OSH issues
Section 3. Legislative deficiencies
Section 4. KEY MESSAGES TU positions and recommendations
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
SECTION 1Context
Working with nanomaterials
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
• Nanomarket is fast growing• Environmental and health impacts• There are concerns that available
information about nanomaterials is not sufficient to guarantee its safe use
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
Routes of exposure:
1. Inhalation2. Ingestion3. Dermal
NPs interaction with biological system:• Deposition in organs• Translocation• Bioaccumulation• Fiber Paradigm
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
SECTION 2OSH ISSUES
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
EXPOSURE THROUGH ALL LIFE CYCLE
Synthesis Production Transportation Use Waste
ALL INDUSTRIAL SECTORS
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
1. Safety Data Sheets with nano-specific information2. Employers need to provide specific training on how to handle nanomaterials.
But employers, risk prevention services and occupational medicine services are themselves not always aware
Information that guarantees the safe use is needed
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
SECTION 3Legislative deficiencies
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
• Various elements:– Framework Directive of 1989 on Safety and health of
workers at work– European Directive on chemical agents (98/24/CE)– REACH and CLP regulations – Cosmetics, waste, medicinal drugs, information for
consumers…
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
• Nanomaterial definitionCommission recommandation (2011 – confirmed in
2014)
• "a natural, incidental or manufactured material • containing particles, in an unbound state or as an aggregate
or as an agglomerate and • where, for 50 % or more of the particles in the number size
distribution, one or more external dimensions is in the size range 1 nm-100 nm."
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
• REACH does not work for nanos • Nanomaterials are placed on the market without
prior registration or monitoring (in contradiction with the REACH principle « No data-no market »)– Manufacturers and distributors rarely produce or
import more than one tonne of nanomaterial per year – REACH does not require nano to be registred as new
substances Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth
2015
Difference bulk vs. nanomaterial
There remains many unknowns about the appropriate handling and health effects of nanomaterials.
Nanomaterials should be handled differently to traditional materials.
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
• European civil society considers that REACH does not allow suffisent and dependable information to be obtained to evaluate and deal with the presumed risks
• Some Member States put in place their own traceability systems and registers for monitoring the marketing of nanomaterials
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
SECTION 4KEY MESSAGES TU positions and
recommendations
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
‘No data, no market’
When no data onhazards is available, workers must not be exposedand processes have to beperformed in closed systems.
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
• Investment of public funds in scientific research into the risks potentially connected with exposure to nanomaterials
• Exchanges of good practices and international scientific cooperation (international guidelines)
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
SDS ought to contain informations about specific physical properties of the substance, give details of the form of the nano, container and type of storage & information on the risks
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
Workers need a good understanding of nanomaterials to understand the benefits and risks. Therefore
participation by workers in setting the appropriate prevention measures is a key factor.
There is a need to identify the possible risks:
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
Workers are in contact with nanomaterials
Register the exposureWho is exposed to what?
Who does
what?Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth
2015
If exposure: introduce medical surveillance
Long term non-specific examinations during and after the work life.
Track exposure and detectpossible patterns & diseases.
Useful for epidemiological studies.
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015
TU actions
Organization of trainings and information sessions
Examination of work places
Awareness campaign of politicians for the building of a national register (collaboration with NGO’s)
Knowledge sharing within international trade union networkCaroline Verdoot Fort Worth
2015
Thank you.
Caroline Verdoot Fort Worth 2015