
The main outcomes and key deliverables of the project are aligned with the abovementioned objectives, that is, technically feasible prevention and protection measures for mitigating and control the EHS risks posed by NMs during the nanocomposites production, use and disposal to support the quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of the workplace controls.
As key result, NanoRISK provides stakeholders with scientific based tools and data to guarantee a safe working environment, promoting the implementation of REACH provisions, in particular, the chemical safety assessment process. It shall be noted a direct contribution of the project to decrease the exposure of human and environment to dangerous substances, and to increase the transparency on hazard and exposure related data, promoting the concepts of responsible care, sustainability and green economies.
The results achieved are the following:
1. A functional and validated testing chamber prototype designed to support the evaluation of the effectiveness of RMMs against ENMs under controlled conditions, and provide stakeholders with a proper space to simulate operative conditions involving the use of ENMs as such, in a preparation or in articles (i.e. polymers).

2. A compendium of 10 well defined and standardized protocols (SOPs) to evaluate the effectiveness of local executive ventilation systems and personal protective equipment against particles and aerosols below 100 nm.

|
Standards |
RMMs |
Performance factor |
|
EN 13274-1:2001 |
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) |
Penetration, P (%): Inward leakage (IL) and Total inward leakage (TIL) Efficiency (%): P (%) – 100 Nominal protection factor (NPF) |
|
EN 13274-7:2008 |
Respiratory protective devices: Particle filters |
Penetration, P (%) |
|
EN 374-2:2003 |
Chemical protective gloves |
Resistance to penetration |
|
EN 374-3:2003 |
Resistance to permeation |
|
|
EN 16523-1:2015 |
Resistance to permeation under conditions of continuous contact |
|
|
ISO/CD 19918 “ |
Cumulative permeation of chemicals with low vapour pressure through materials” |
|
|
ISO 13982-2:2004 |
Protective clothing for use against solid particulates |
Nominal Protection factor (NPF) and Total average inward leakage (TILA). |
|
EN 168:2001 |
Personal eye protection – Non-optical test methods |
Protection against gases and fine dust particles |
|
AS/NZS 1337:1:2010 |
Personal eye protection. Eye and face protector for occupational applications |
|
|
UNE-EN 14175-4:2005 ANSI/ASHRAE 52 2007 |
Local Exhaustive ventilation |
Capture Efficiency (Cf) |
|
UNE-EN 1822 ASHRAE 52 2007 |
Local Exhaustive ventilation |
Capture Efficiency (Cf) |
3. Reliable data on the performance of common risk management measures against NMs, including information on the protection factor (PF) for respiratory and eye protection equipment, permeation and penetration factor for protective gloves and suits, capture efficiency for ventilation systems (LEVs), and removal efficiency of emission control technologies.
4. A complete assessment report of current ISO and ASTM standards for personal protective equipment (PPE) testing against ENMs, including an in-depth critical analysis of the application of current experimental protocols;
5. An innovative Microsoft excel® based Risk Management Measures library containing information of the effectiveness against target ENMs and critical operative conditions.
6. A multimedia guidance to assist companies on the selection of recommended measures to control the exposure in workplaces and reduce release of ENMs to the environment.
8. New information on the release rates to air, surface fresh and marine water, waste water and soil for each relevant stage on the life cycle.
9. New knowledge on the airborne behaviour of the target NMs, including new data on their aggregation/agglomeration patterns and deposition factors under the specific conditions of use presented in the nanocomposites production facilities
10. Implementation and validation of recommended RMMs in 5 case studies covering the life cycle of relevant ENMs.
11. A structured compendium of free webinars and workshopsto support the training of end users and stakeholders in the use and implementation of the RMM.
12. A set of informative material to disseminate the project actionsat a Regional, National and European level, including a functional project web-site, brochures, newsletters, and informative videos.
13. A network platformto close the knowledge gaps about nanomaterials impact and to develop and implement, in collaboration with scientific committees
In addition, an overall reduction of unintentional emissions of ENMs to the air, water and / or soil compartment from the production process by a 15 % has been estimated, considering both experimental data on the efficiency of the risk management measures and results of the implementation phase.

