RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN HANDLING NANOMATERIALS IN POWDER FORM

Thor GmbH uses pyrogenic silic acid in powder form with a primary particle size of 5 to 30 nm, to produce chemicals. This pyrogenic silic acid is supplied as aggregates and agglomerates. The silic acid at nano-scale is manually filled into a mixing vessel to produce different, water-based products. Workers could potentially be exposed to the nano-scale silic acid by inhaling dusts from the opening and emptying of bags and by the transfer of materials to the vessel in which these are stored. Dermal contact is possible also.