Nano Exposure Quantifier A quantitative tool for assessing exposure in the workplace

The Nano Exposure Quantifier (NEQ) is a quantitative exposure assessment tool. It is designed to assist users in the safe-by-design process and decisions to reduce risk as a result from working with manufactured nanomaterials. The NEQ offers a Tiered approach by adapting the questions based on the depth of information the user can provide allowing anywhere between a Tier-1 and a Tier-2 approach.

The Nano Exposure Quantifier (NEQ) is developed in the EU Horizon2020 “safe-by-design for Nano” (SBD4Nano) project. NEQ is a freely available, easy to use quantitative exposure assessment tool that helps users with different levels of expertise to reduce the exposure from (newly developed) manufactured nanomaterials following an integrated Tiered safe-by-design approach.

A quantitative tool for assessing exposure in the workplace

The EU Horizon2020 "safe-by-design for Nano" (SBD4Nano) project aimed to develop a tool to assist users in the safe-by-design process and decisions to reduce risk as a result from working with- or using newly developed products containing manufactured nanomaterials (MNs). Therefore, TNO designed the Nano Exposure Quantifier (NEQ), an easy to use quantitative exposure assessment tool, that helps users with different levels of expertise to reduce the exposure from MNs following an integrated Tiered safe-by-design approach.

Based on previous projects, literature, expert knowledge, a Tiered set of model determinants and corresponding calculations were integrated into a conceptual model. Also, an exposure database based on the EU GRACIOUS template was created containing a large set of exposure measurements collected from diverse literature studies. Machine learning was applied to these exposure measurements to validate and refine the model. Lastly, a safe-by-design module was added to assist users modify their material or process design to reduce exposure.

The NEQ offers a Tiered approach by smartly adapting the questions based on the depth of information the user can provide allowing anywhere between a Tier-1 and a Tier-2 approach. After answering questions the user is presented an exposure estimate including uncertainty of the current design. The user is guided to enter a new design that reduces the exposure and/or its uncertainty.

Register or login

This tool is freely available, please register or login and get direct access to the Nano Exposure Quantifier (NEQ).