Comparative Risk Assessment of Tasks Involved with Nanomaterials Using NanoTool & Guidance Methods

Abstract

Assessing the risks related to the advancement of science and technology has always been accompanied by many uncertainties. As a new field of science, nanotechnology faces numerous uncertainties concerning safety, health, and environmental aspects dealing with which requires a proper risk assessment. Accordingly, this study intended to assess the risk of tasks associated with nanomaterials comparatively, examining the risks in eighteen companies in Tehran. The two proposed risk-assessment methods for the activities involving nanomaterials (NanoTool and Guidance) assisted in assessing the risk of their tasks. The results were analyzed using SPSS.22 and the chi-square test and indicated the different outputs of the two methods despite being designed based on the control banding approach. These differences could be attributed to the different risk-assessment parameters that these methods considered. The statistical analysis results also showed no significant relationship between them. Given the large differences and insignificant association between risk assessment results, the guidance method was less effective than the nanotool method. However, straightforwardness and convivence of implementation in the workplace and various research environments make it a helpful method in initial evaluations.