Background: NanoEXPLORE is a project mandated and funded by the European Union. It aims to evaluate health effects derived from exposure to engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and to promote evidence-based EU policies for ENMs safe use. As a preparatory step to the project, a survey was designed to identify the most commonly used ENMs, exposure routes and release factors, and to evaluate the factors affecting participation of companies and their workforce in research projects on ENMs safety. Methods: A multidisciplinary team developed three standardized questionnaires for the survey. Each questionnaire was designed to target a specific population of interest: senior managers, H&S managers, and employees working in companies producing or using ENMs. The questionnaire directed at managers comprises two parts: the first documents technical aspects of production and use, and characteristics informing possible exposure scenarios; the second focuses on identifying factors that could affect companies' participation in biological surveillance research. The questionnaire directed at workers aims at identifying factors and conditions that could influence their participation in such research. The questionnaires are available in the project partners' six languages (English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Greek). Invitation to participate to the survey was sent in early April to 7,600 individual contacts identified by Yordas Group. As part of the management executives' survey, respondents are asked to disseminate the workers' survey to their employees. The survey will be running for approximately 4-5 weeks. Results: Preliminary results are expected by the end of May; full results by end of July. Results will provide data to inform the design of the longitudinal research protocol (biomonitoring of exposure and potential early effects of ENMs on human health). Short discussion/conclusions: To our knowledge, this survey is the first trying to document technical aspects as well as companies and individuals' motivation to participate in biological surveillance programmes.
FACTORS AND CONDITIONS AFFECTING PARTICIPATION IN BIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME AMONG NANOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AND WORKERS
Bergamaschi Enrico;
2019-01-01
Abstract
Background: NanoEXPLORE is a project mandated and funded by the European Union. It aims to evaluate health effects derived from exposure to engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and to promote evidence-based EU policies for ENMs safe use. As a preparatory step to the project, a survey was designed to identify the most commonly used ENMs, exposure routes and release factors, and to evaluate the factors affecting participation of companies and their workforce in research projects on ENMs safety. Methods: A multidisciplinary team developed three standardized questionnaires for the survey. Each questionnaire was designed to target a specific population of interest: senior managers, H&S managers, and employees working in companies producing or using ENMs. The questionnaire directed at managers comprises two parts: the first documents technical aspects of production and use, and characteristics informing possible exposure scenarios; the second focuses on identifying factors that could affect companies' participation in biological surveillance research. The questionnaire directed at workers aims at identifying factors and conditions that could influence their participation in such research. The questionnaires are available in the project partners' six languages (English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Greek). Invitation to participate to the survey was sent in early April to 7,600 individual contacts identified by Yordas Group. As part of the management executives' survey, respondents are asked to disseminate the workers' survey to their employees. The survey will be running for approximately 4-5 weeks. Results: Preliminary results are expected by the end of May; full results by end of July. Results will provide data to inform the design of the longitudinal research protocol (biomonitoring of exposure and potential early effects of ENMs on human health). Short discussion/conclusions: To our knowledge, this survey is the first trying to document technical aspects as well as companies and individuals' motivation to participate in biological surveillance programmes.
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