Literature review of the health risks related to nanomaterials and development of a strategic monitoring mechanism Abstract Québec is very active in research in the field of nanoparticle development and nanotechnology. More than 35 production companies already exist or are in the start-up phase. It is believed that the number of Québec workers potentially exposed will grow over the next few years. To prevent the development of occupational diseases or the occurrence of accidents, the IRSST began a review of world-wide scientific knowledge to evaluate whether there are known risks associated with this emerging sector. An initial report addressing the health effects (R-451) shows that a limited number of toxicological studies exist, but all of these studies conclude that there are some health risks following exposure to nanoparticles. Although numerous risks are associated with the nature of nanoparticles, it has now been clearly established that toxicity is related to the surface area of these particles and not their mass, and that, for a given substance, the toxicity is much higher when it is of nanometric size than micrometric size.The second report (R-455) summarizes current knowledge about nanoparticles, their synthesis and applications, health and safety risks, and the challenges in evaluating occupational exposure. Also discussed are nanoparticle-related occupational health and safety control and prevention aspects. Produced Under this Project Scientific Reports Nanoparticle-related health effects Research Report: R-451, R-469Nanoparticles - Actual Knowledge about Occupational Health and Safety Risks and Prevention Measures Research Report: R-455, R-470 Scientific Publications OHS and Nanotechnology: The IRSST approach (Poster)Ostiguy C., Cloutier Y., Ménard L., Lapointe G., Soucy B., Woods C., Cofsky S.Source : in Nanotechnology Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety / NOEHS, (December 4-7, 2006 : Cincinnati, USA), 2006Les nanoparticules représentent-elles une problématique émergente en hygiène industrielle?Ostiguy C., Lapointe G., Ménard L., Cloutier Y., Trottier M., Boutin M., Antoun M.Source : in Congrès de l'Association québécoise pour l'hygiène, la santé et la sécurité du travail / AQHSST : La prévention un éternel recommencement ou… une amélioration continue, (28e : 9-11 mai, 2006 : Québec, Canada), 2006, (http://www.aqhsst.qc.ca/act/pdf/ostiguy_c.pdf)Dépôt de particules en zone respiratoire - L'évidence fait erreurOstiguy C.Source : Travail et santé, vol. 24, no 2, 2008, p. 45-46Nanotechnologie - Vers la prochaine révolution industrielleOstiguy C.Source : Travail et santé, vol. 23, no 4, 2007, p. 10-15Les nanotechnologies: un défi qu'on peut relever!Ostiguy C.Source : in Colloque en santé et en sécurité du travail, (16 octobre, 2009 : Jonquière, Canada), 2009Occupational health and safety research and nanotechnologyOstiguy C.Source : in Canada-Japan Nanotechnology Symposium, Canada- Nanotechnology Business Creation Initiative (NBCI), (February 11, 2008 : Nagano, Japan), 2008Engineered nanoparticles: the state of scientific knowledge on occupational health and safety risks and issuesOstiguy C., Roberge B., Soucy B., Woods C., Lapointe G., Ménard L.Source : in Recherche en santé et sécurité du travail en action : méthodes, résultats et applications : Congrès en santé et sécurité du travail / ACRST-RRSSTQ, (15-17 juin, 2008 : Montréal, Canada), 2008Les universités sont-elles prêtes pour un développement sécuritaire des nanotechnologies?Ostiguy C.Source : in Colloque sur la santé et la sécurité du travail en milieu universitaire de la CREPUQ, (22e : 1er novembre, 2007 : Montréal, Canada), 2007 Additional Information Type: Project Number: 0099-4190 Status: Completed Year of completion: 2006 Research Field: Chemical and Biological Hazard Prevention Team: Claude Ostiguy (IRSST)Mylène Trottier (Proximeduc)Yves Cloutier (IRSST)Michel Boutin (Université de Montréal)Luc Ménard (IRSST)Gilles Lapointe (Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail)Monty Antoun (Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail)