Developing a guideline for measuring the total number concentration of engineering nanomaterials in workplaces in China.

Objectives: To provide a guideline for assessing the occupational exposure to nanomaterials in workplaces in China.
Methods: Based on the basic requirement for the sampling of harmful substances, condensation particle counter/optical particle counter (CPC/OPC) was selected as the tool and the total number concentration (TNC) was used as an index to measure engineering nanomaterials in workplaces.
Results: The strategy included instrument preparation, identification of particle-emission source, particle-property analysis, measurement of background concentration, concentration measurement based on working activity, concentration calculation and analysis, and recording of measurements.
Conclusions: The draft guideline based on traditional industrial hygiene practices can be used to identify the emission source of nanomaterials, qualitatively and quantitatively assess exposure to nanomaterials in workplaces.
(© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Occupational Health published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Japan Society for Occupational Health.)