The Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) and NanoQuébec are pleased to announce they will jointly fund three new research projects on worker exposure to engineered nanoparticles. Following a joint call for proposals in the autumn of 2012, a peer committee meticulously evaluated the protocols of seven projects. On the basis of this evaluation, the IRSST and NanoQuébec selected three projects, with total funding amounting to $525,000.

The principal researchers for these projects, their affiliations and the titles of the projects selected are:

1. Nathalie Tufenkji, McGill University: "Measuring the Effectiveness of Protective Gloves for Working with Nanoparticles in Conditions Simulating their Use in the Workplace";
2. Maximilian Debia Université de Montréal: "The Development and Validation of Methods for Sampling and Characterizing Engineered Nanomaterials in Air and on Workplace Surfaces";
3. Karim Maghni, Université de Montréal: "The Development and Validation of Universal NanoBadge prototypes (u-Nanobadge) for Evaluating Pulmonary and Cutaneous Exposure to Engineered Nanoparticles".

These projects will likely take two years to complete and involve collaborators from various institutions, as well as students. This is the second time the IRSST and NanoQuébec have worked as partners in funding initiatives on exposure to nanoparticles.

Marie Larue and Benoit Balmana, the CEOs of the IRSST and NanoQuébec respectively, believe that the three new studies will promote innovation and growth in the nanotechnology sector by fostering a better understanding of the risks involved in exposure to nanoparticles in work environments, and of the verification methods designed to avoid these risks. They wish to congratulate the grant recipients and thank all of the researchers who submitted projects as part of the competition.

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Sources
Jacques Millette
Public Affairs Manager
IRSST

Sylvie Dufort
Administrative Director
NanoQuébec