National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Nanomaterials and Worker Health Conference--medical surveillance session summary report.

Abstract

The goal of these sessions was to identify current practices and recommendations regarding medical surveillance for nanomaterial workers. Conference participants met in three discussion groups. There were few existing programs directed to nanomaterial workers. Participants expressed a range of views, from feeling that comprehensive medical surveillance is important currently to suggesting that targeted medical surveillance will become important when more complete data are available to assess risks. Results of health outcomes research for ultrafine air pollution and toxicological information about specific nanomaterials should inform the design of medical surveillance programs. Groups with high exposures should be identified and targeted. Overall, because of uncertainties in the health effects of concern, investments in control measures, exposure assessment efforts, and exposure registries are currently most likely to be important prevention strategies.