A General Framework for Developing a Comprehensive Health Risk Assessment Method for Nanomaterials-Related Activities: A Critical Analysis
Introduction: Nanomaterials are widely applied across diverse scientific and industrial sectors; however, their emergence has introduced a new generation of occupational hazards for workers. Concurrent with discussions on the adverse effects of nanomaterials on human health, researchers have sought...
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Tehran University of Medical Sciences
2025-07-01
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| Series: | بهداشت و ایمنی کار |
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| Online Access: | http://jhsw.tums.ac.ir/article-1-7162-en.pdf |
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| author | Soqrat Omari Shekaftik Abbas Sheikhtaheri Esmaeil Zarei Somayeh Farhang Dehghan Neda Mehrparvar Farideh Golbabaei |
| author_facet | Soqrat Omari Shekaftik Abbas Sheikhtaheri Esmaeil Zarei Somayeh Farhang Dehghan Neda Mehrparvar Farideh Golbabaei |
| author_sort | Soqrat Omari Shekaftik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Nanomaterials are widely applied across diverse scientific and industrial sectors; however, their emergence has introduced a new generation of occupational hazards for workers. Concurrent with discussions on the adverse effects of nanomaterials on human health, researchers have sought to develop methods for assessing occupational risks associated with these materials. Accordingly, this study aims to propose a general framework for the development of such methods.
Material and Methods: This is a critical analysis study designed to evaluate existing methods for assessing occupational risks related to nanomaterials and ultimately propose a modified framework for refining these methods. By examining current approaches and identifying their strengths and weaknesses, the authors have proposed an improved framework for occupational risk assessment of nanomaterials.
Results: The proposed framework is based on two key dimensions: “Severity/Hazard” and “Probability/Exposure.” The first dimension determines the potential risk level arising from exposure to nanomaterials, with the most critical factors being the intrinsic properties and toxicology of the nanomaterial itself, parent materials, and similar substances. The second dimension describes the likelihood and nature of exposure to nanomaterials during work activities, with the most influential factors being worker, job tasks, and workplace environment characteristics.
Conclusion: The lack of sufficient data and numerous uncertainties regarding bio-nano interactions make quantitative risk assessment (the traditional occupational health approach) difficult, less reliable, and in some cases unfeasible for nanomaterials—given current knowledge. Qualitative and semi-quantitative approaches, such as Control Banding, despite demonstrating positive aspects, have faced significant criticism. The framework-based method proposed herein appears capable of partially overcoming these challenges. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9acdea6f3ff2430d96ce14e90de5b5cd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2251-807X 2383-2088 |
| language | fas |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Tehran University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | بهداشت و ایمنی کار |
| spelling | doaj-art-9acdea6f3ff2430d96ce14e90de5b5cd2025-08-20T03:50:25ZfasTehran University of Medical Sciencesبهداشت و ایمنی کار2251-807X2383-20882025-07-01152352368A General Framework for Developing a Comprehensive Health Risk Assessment Method for Nanomaterials-Related Activities: A Critical AnalysisSoqrat Omari Shekaftik0Abbas Sheikhtaheri1Esmaeil Zarei2Somayeh Farhang Dehghan3Neda Mehrparvar4Farideh Golbabaei5 Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Research Unit, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Safety Science, College of Aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ, 86301, USA | Robertson Safety Institute (RSI), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ, 86301, USA Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Introduction: Nanomaterials are widely applied across diverse scientific and industrial sectors; however, their emergence has introduced a new generation of occupational hazards for workers. Concurrent with discussions on the adverse effects of nanomaterials on human health, researchers have sought to develop methods for assessing occupational risks associated with these materials. Accordingly, this study aims to propose a general framework for the development of such methods. Material and Methods: This is a critical analysis study designed to evaluate existing methods for assessing occupational risks related to nanomaterials and ultimately propose a modified framework for refining these methods. By examining current approaches and identifying their strengths and weaknesses, the authors have proposed an improved framework for occupational risk assessment of nanomaterials. Results: The proposed framework is based on two key dimensions: “Severity/Hazard” and “Probability/Exposure.” The first dimension determines the potential risk level arising from exposure to nanomaterials, with the most critical factors being the intrinsic properties and toxicology of the nanomaterial itself, parent materials, and similar substances. The second dimension describes the likelihood and nature of exposure to nanomaterials during work activities, with the most influential factors being worker, job tasks, and workplace environment characteristics. Conclusion: The lack of sufficient data and numerous uncertainties regarding bio-nano interactions make quantitative risk assessment (the traditional occupational health approach) difficult, less reliable, and in some cases unfeasible for nanomaterials—given current knowledge. Qualitative and semi-quantitative approaches, such as Control Banding, despite demonstrating positive aspects, have faced significant criticism. The framework-based method proposed herein appears capable of partially overcoming these challenges.http://jhsw.tums.ac.ir/article-1-7162-en.pdfrisk assessmentnanomaterialsmethod developmentnew framework |
| spellingShingle | Soqrat Omari Shekaftik Abbas Sheikhtaheri Esmaeil Zarei Somayeh Farhang Dehghan Neda Mehrparvar Farideh Golbabaei A General Framework for Developing a Comprehensive Health Risk Assessment Method for Nanomaterials-Related Activities: A Critical Analysis بهداشت و ایمنی کار risk assessment nanomaterials method development new framework |
| title | A General Framework for Developing a Comprehensive Health Risk Assessment Method for Nanomaterials-Related Activities: A Critical Analysis |
| title_full | A General Framework for Developing a Comprehensive Health Risk Assessment Method for Nanomaterials-Related Activities: A Critical Analysis |
| title_fullStr | A General Framework for Developing a Comprehensive Health Risk Assessment Method for Nanomaterials-Related Activities: A Critical Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | A General Framework for Developing a Comprehensive Health Risk Assessment Method for Nanomaterials-Related Activities: A Critical Analysis |
| title_short | A General Framework for Developing a Comprehensive Health Risk Assessment Method for Nanomaterials-Related Activities: A Critical Analysis |
| title_sort | general framework for developing a comprehensive health risk assessment method for nanomaterials related activities a critical analysis |
| topic | risk assessment nanomaterials method development new framework |
| url | http://jhsw.tums.ac.ir/article-1-7162-en.pdf |
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