Development of methods for exposure and risk assessment for occupational handling of material in the graphene family

Research Project, 2021 – 2023

Purpose and goal: There is an uncertainty in the risk assessment for handling graphene in the work environment and there are no methods for measuring exposure. Alternative methods for risk assessment of nanomaterials are available through internet-based risk assessment tools, but they need to be evaluated regarding graphene.
The purpose is to develop methods to be able to measure exposure to graphene in air and on surfaces and to evaluate the modeling tools for graphene. The project will provide a better basis for risk assessment for graphene, which facilitates preventive recommendations. Expected results and effects: With increased knowledge of factors that are important for risk assessments, uncertainties about handling graphene-containing materials in the work environment decrease. Knowledge is lacking today and the industry is more inclined towards generic principles such as the precautionary principle, increased knowledge about exposure to graphene-containing materials will be of great value. Moreover, knowledge and methods for measuring exposure to graphene will be important for all future applications where graphene is used and where an exposure and risk assessment is required.

Approach and implementation: The work will be carried out in three work packages. In the first package, methods for determining graphene material in air and on surfaces will be developed with thermo-optical analysis. When there are methods for measuring the graphene, these will be used in two different environments, in parallel with standard occupational hygiene methods. In a third work package, available risk assessment tools will be evaluated at two different workplaces.