Nanotoxicology and Remediation - Nanomaterials for Medical Applications - page 384

8.4.1 Spills of NMs in solution
(1) Call the immediate supervisor if the personnel who spilled the NMs did not
get contaminated with the NMs in any part of the body or garments.
(2) Allow the solution to soak in paper towels. There must be stacks of paper
towels together with the caustic and acid spills kit.
(3) Collect the paper towels in NMs contaminated trash bins that are properly
labeled with “hazardous materials”.
(4) In the case of QD spills, immediately use cotton washcloth soaked in soap
and water to clean up the area of the spill. In the case of IOMNPs, AuNPs,
CNTs, and AgNPs, these are easier to remove from solid surfaces than
QDs.
(5) To remove all traces of the spilled NMs solution, immediately scrub the
spill area with a washcloth soaked in soap and water.
(6) Discard all used paper towels and wash clothes properly in hazardous waste
containers.
8.4.2 Spills of NMs in Powder Form
All types of powders disperse through air movement very easily. Dangerous and
hazardous powders such as the NMs must be handled inside a safety fume hood
at all times.
(1) Always wear the PPE at all times.
(2) Make sure to handle all powder form NMs inside the fume hood.
(3) Place the fume hood window as low as the allowable level.
(4) In the event of a spill inside the fume hood, take damp paper towels and
carefully place on top of the spilled powders to prevent escape into the air.
(5) Collect the NMs powder carefully with the damp paper towels avoiding any
possible disturbance of the dry powder to prevent it from escaping into the
atmosphere.
(6) In the case of QD spills, immediately use cotton washcloth soaked in soap
and water to clean up the area of the spill.
(7) To remove all traces of the spilled NMs in powder form, immediately scrub
the spill area with a washcloth soaked in soap and water.
(8) Discard all used paper towels and wash clothes properly in hazardous waste
containers.
The best practice in dealing with NMs is to always assume that these are harm-
ful. Hence, all personnel must were PPE at all times. Handle the NMs, whether
in powder or in solution inside a safety fume hood and away from any part of
the body. Make sure there is proper ventilation in the laboratory at all times. If
a spill occurs, do not try to solve the problem if you are not trained to do so,
especially in the event of powder spills. Call your immediate supervisor when
in doubt of what to do after you spill any NMs.