Nanoparticles

Instructions for the handling of Nanoparticles at DTU:

Nanoparticles occur in many places in our daily environment, from candles, fireplaces, cooking and exhaust cars, etc. Nanoparticles are a common term for all substances in which the primary particles have at least one dimension less than about 100 nm. Nanoparticles can have different shapes - eg. fiber, sheet and spherical, as well as aggregates. The long thin fibers, which are not water soluble, are considered to be the most dangerous.

Since data for the harmful effects of the individual nanoparticles are not always available, DTU uses the precautionary principle, hench, assuming the particles to be harmful. Therefore, It is necessary to always consider, whether a workflow can generate nanoparticles.

DTU has a guideline for handling nanoparticles, which must be implemented in local risk assessments, together with the detailed instruction below. The guideline is from 2017 and revised in 2025. See the associated film. (The film cannot be edited, and therefore the Nanosafer risk assessment tool should be disregarded)

Before the work with nanoparticles is carried out, a risk assessment must be prepared, in cooperation with the nano-responsible of the Institute, and signed by the local health and safety organization. This is necessary as nanoparticles can only be handled in approved equipment under approved procedures, which is covered in the Institute's Nano-APV. This is to ensure the individual employee, coworkers, operators, and the external environment against exposure to dangerous nanoparticles.

Approved technical equipment will be signed for the use. If the handling of nanoparticles requires extra personal protective equipment, such as coveralls and air-breathing respiratory protection, entrance doors must be signed, to warn others against the danger.

As the particles do not behave like normal powder that falls to the ground, it is important to know the cleaning procedure when handling nanoparticles. In order not to spread the danger in case of spillage and accident, the cleaning requires a special procedure, as the particles can behave like gases.

DTU wishes to ensure that no employees are exposed to dangerous nanoparticles. Therefore, it has been decided, that the handling of nanoparticles must be checked by means of control measurements.