In general, the potential risks to health from particulate nanomaterial can be reduced by safe handling and exposure control that limit inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion and injection.  Whilst no single piece of guidance can provide a definitive, step-by-step approach to safe handling of all nanomaterials in all circumstances, there are a number of general as well as specific best practice guides that can be used in most applications.

1. Furnaces or chemical reaction chambers used for engineered nanomaterials must be connected to dedicated exhaust ventilation.  Use fume exhaust hood or dedicated local exhaust to exhaust any nanoparticles from tube furnaces or chemical reaction vessels.  
2. Work should be performed inside a laboratory fume hood at a minimum.  Where gram quantities of nanomaterials are utilized in an exhausted enclosure, HEPA filtration or other means of treatment of the exhaust air may be necessary. Do not exhaust aerosols containing engineered nanoparticles inside buildings.
3. To minimize airborne release of particulate nanomaterial to the environment, nanoparticles can be handled in solutions, or attached to substrates so that dry material is not released.  When this is not feasible and the nanomaterials are in gram quantities, exhausted enclosures such as HEPA-filtered local capture hood or glove box are required.

Work Practices

Consideration and precautions should be taken in the following situations:

1. When purchasing commercially available nanomaterials, be sure to obtain the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and to review the information in the MSDS with all students or assistants who will be working with the material.  All personnel participating in research involving such materials need to be briefed on the potential hazards as well as on proper techniques for handling nanoparticles.
2. In some researches, the fabrication of nanomaterials involves the use of chemicals that are known to be hazardous or toxic.  Be sure to evaluate the hazards of the precursor materials and users should make themselves familiar with the known chemical's hazards by reading the MSDS or other hazard information.
3. Practice good environmental hygiene.  Wet wipe work surfaces such as benchtops where nanomaterials, fibers or solutions have been handled at the end of each day.  Surface contamination with particulate nanomaterials may not be visible.
4. Wear double gloves, safety goggles and appropriate protective clothing for handling dry or liquid materials. When nanomaterials are present in a solvent carrier, glove should be selected based on the suitability of the glove for protection against the particular solvent.
5. Use standard precautions when liquid phase nanomaterials are used in biological research procedures.
6. Wear approved respirator filters that are rated as N-, R- or P-100 (HEPA) for respiratory protection where airborne exposure to particulate nanomaterials is anticipated, e.g. cleanout of systems used for the growth of nanomaterial like carbon nanotubes or metal particulates.  HSEO will work with researchers to provide the most appropriate type of respirator.
7. Equipment used to create or handle nanomaterials should be cleaned or evaluated for potential contamination prior to disposal or reuse.  Laboratory equipment and exhaust systems should be evaluated prior to repair or removal and equipment maintenance staff need to be alerted to the potential exposure to nanoparticles. 
8. Dispose of and transport waste nanomaterials in solution according to the hazardous waste procedures for the solvent.  All waste nanomaterials should be treated as unwanted hazardous “toxic” materials unless it is known to be non-hazardous. If you have questions on how to dispose of a specific nanomaterial waste, contact HSEO for more information and advice.
9. Spills of nanomaterials are to be cleaned up right away.  The person cleaning up the spill should wear double gloves and vacuum up the area with a HEPA filtered vacuum or wet wipe the area with towels or clean the spill using a combination of the two methods.  For spills that might result in airborne nanoparticles, proper respiratory protection should be worn.  For assistance with cleaning up any spill, contact HSEO.
10. Other good laboratory practices including labeling of containers with the full chemical name or name of mixture, hand washing, good personal hygiene, no eating or drinking in the laboratory, etc., should also be followed.