Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) Information and comment period

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), as part of its mission to investigate new and emerging hazards, has initiated an evaluation of the scientific data on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to ascertain the potential health risks to workers and to identify gaps in knowledge so that appropriate laboratory and field research studies can be conducted. NIOSH has identified a number of relevant publications on AgNPs .

NIOSH is requesting additional information on the following: (1) published and unpublished reports and findings from in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies with AgNPs, (2) information on possible health effects observed in workers exposed to AgNPs, (3) information on workplaces and products in which AgNPs can be found, (4) description of work tasks and scenarios with a potential for exposure, (5) information on measurement methods and, workplace exposure data, and (6) information on control measures (e.g., engineering controls, work practices, PPE) that are being used in workplaces where potential exposures to AgNPs occur.

Federal Register Notice:
Notice of draft publication available for public comment; 77 FR 75169  [PDF - 3,214 KB]

List of References:
List of references  [PDF - 4,864 KB]

Public Comment Period

Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. EST on February 19, 2013.

Written comments, identified by CDC-2012-0014 and docket number NIOSH-260, may be submitted by any of the following methods:

• Federal rulemaking portal: Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

  Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number. All relevant comments, including any personal information provided, will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov

• Mail: NIOSH Docket Office
  Robert A. Taft Laboratories
  MS-C34
  4676 Columbia Parkway
  Cincinnati, OH 45226