page_title: Radioactive nanoparticle
section_title: Hazard controls
hierarchical_section_title: Radioactive nanoparticle / Health and safety / Hazard controls
caption_attribution_description: English: Figure 10. Conventional (constant-flow) laboratory chemical hood. The constant-flow hood constitutes the oldest, simplest chemical hood design. The exhaust fan introduces a constant volumetric air flow moving through the sash opening. For this hood design, the face velocity is lowest when the sash is wide open; when the sash is lowered the face velocity increases.
context_page_description: A radioactive nanoparticle is a nanoparticle that contains radioactive materials. Radioactive nanoparticles have applications in medical diagnostics, medical imaging, toxicokinetics, and environmental health, and are being investigated for applications in nuclear nanomedicine. Radioactive nanoparticles present special challenges in operational health physics and internal dosimetry that are not present for other substances, although existing radiation protection measures and hazard controls for nanoparticles generally apply.
context_section_description: In general, most elements of a standard radiation protection program are applicable to radioactive nanomaterials, and many hazard controls for nanomaterials will be effective with the radioactive versions.  The hierarchy of hazard controls encompasses a succession of five categories of control methods to reduce the risk of illness or injury.  The two most effective are elimination and substitution, for example reducing dust exposure by eliminating a sonication process or substituting a nanomaterial slurry or suspension in a liquid solvent instead of a dry powder.  Substitutions should consider both the radioactivity and physicochemical hazards of all the options, and also take into account that radioactive nanomaterials are easier to detect than non-radioactive substances.
  Engineering controls should be the primary form of protection, including local exhaust systems such as fume hoods, gloveboxes, biosafety cabinets, and vented balance enclosures; radiation shielding; and access control systems.  The need for negative room pressure to prevent contamination of outside areas can conflict with the customary use of positive pressure when pharmaceuticals are being handled, although this can be overcome through use of a cascade pressure system, or by handling nanomaterials in enclosures.
  Administrative controls include procedures to limit radiation doses, and contamination control procedures including encouraging good work practices and monitoring for contamination.  Personal protective equipment is the least effective and should be used in conjunction with other hazard controls.  In general, personal protective equipment intended for radioactive materials should be effective with radioactive nanomaterials, including impervious laboratory coats, goggles, safety gloves, and in some cases respirators, although the greater potential penetration through clothing and mobility in air of nanoparticles should be taken into account.
caption: A fume hood is an engineering control typically used to protect workers using nanoparticles.
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