Development of methods for exposure and risk assessment for occupational handling of material in the graphene family

Important results from the project

The overall goal of the project was to develop methods for performing exposure measurements and risk assessments for handling graphene in the work environment. We have developed a method to measure elemental carbon in air as a proxy for exposure to graphene. If there is no elemental carbon, there is no graphene. To carry out adequate risk assessments, more toxicological information is needed on the importance of various parameters for the toxic effect. A further objective has been to spread information about the need to take the work environment into account and this has been fulfilled.

Expected long term effects

The developed method for measuring different variants of materials in the graphene family works well, as it can distinguish different graphene materials. It can also be used as a check if there is any risk of exposure, as graphene always gives a signal as elemental carbon, but conversely if elemental carbon is present it may be another source and in-depth measurements must be carried out. An increased awareness of the importance of measuring and assessing the exposure within the Swedish innovation agenda for graphene is clear. The project will be followed by new exposure measurements.

Approach and implementation

In the project, we have developed and validated a method to determine material in the graphene family in air samples as elemental carbon. We also know which additional measuring instruments are the best complements to carrying out exposure measurements for graphene. We have conducted measurements in three different "industrial" environments with measurable exposures to graphene, which means that graphene will exist as airborne exposure in many applications and that more knowledge is needed in the field. For risk assessments, more toxicological information is needed.