Risk assessment of occupational exposure to engineered and incidental nanomaterials: differences and challenges

Occupational settings are increasingly dealing with nanomaterials, leading to significant concerns about health risks. Nanomaterials in occupational settings can be categorized as engineered and incidental nanomaterials. Projections indicate that more than eight million individuals across the globe will be exposed to engineered nanomaterials as part of their occupational activities, by the year 2029 and assessing the associated risks presents challenges to occupational health experts. Incidental nanomaterials exhibit inherent distinctions from their engineered counterparts, which exert a discernible influence on the outcomes of risk assessments. Notably, a pivotal distinction resides in the controlled nature of the manufacturing process for engineered nanomaterials, which enables meticulous regulation of their size, morphology, quantity, and chemical composition. Conversely, incidental nanomaterials do not benefit from such control, leading to inherent variability in these attributes. Distinguishing risk assessment procedures for incidental and engineered nanomaterials is crucial due to the different processes that generate them, leading to differences in parameters needed for risk assessment. Incidental nanomaterial risk assessments face unknown parameters, emphasizing the need for distinct methodologies.