Investigation of recommended good practices to reduce exposure to nanomaterials in nanotechnology laboratories in Tehran, Iran

This study was conducted in nanotechnology laboratories in Tehran. A designed and validated questionnaire was used to meet the study goals. List of laboratories were provided through the Iran Nanotechnology Laboratory Network. All data were analyzed using SPSS.22. While 46.7% of the laboratories employed between 5 and 10 people on average, only 33.3% of them had a nanomaterial safety and health policy. In 80.0% of laboratories, nanomaterials were stored in labeled containers, while only 20.0% of laboratories were confident of the information on the labels. In terms of engineering controls, most laboratories had minimal controls (general ventilation and local ventilation). The laboratories also had minimal facilities in terms of personal protective equipment. As the research results indicated, the facilities for reducing and controlling exposure to hazardous substances have always been minimal in these laboratories. Most of them rely on minimal controls for various reasons, such as lack of technology, lack of funds, and lack of information. Finally, it is recommended to establish up-to-date control systems in research laboratories and ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment is provided and used properly.