Engineered nanomaterials: learning from the past, planning for the future.

Abstract

The ongoing explosion in creation and use of engineered nanomaterials leaves stakeholders in government, industry, and labor uncertain of how best to proceed in protecting worker health. A synopsis is presented of the conference Nanomaterials and Worker Health, along with considerations of prior, analogous challenges in occupational health. Progress has been made in defining and addressing the occupational threat of engineered nanomaterials, but future success demands coordinated effort. The conference Nanomaterials and Worker Health laid necessary groundwork for collaboration to proactively and preemptively address the occupational health effects of engineered nanomaterials.