UCLA

The commercial application of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) has rapidly increased as their unique properties are useful to improve many products. ENPs, however, can pose a major health risk for workers through exposure routes such as inhalation and dermal contact. Research is lacking on the protective nature of lab coats when challenged with ENPs. This study investigated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT), carbon black (CB), and nano aluminum oxide (Al2O3) penetration through four types of lab coat fabrics (cotton, polypropylene, polyester cotton, and Tyvek�). Penetration efficiency was determined with direct reading instruments, for specific particle size ranges. The front and back of contaminated fabric swatches were further assessed with microscopy analysis to determine fabric structure with contaminated and penetrated particle morphology, and level of fabric contamination. Fabric thickness, porosity, structure, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, and ENP characteristics such as shape, morphology, and hydrophobicity nature were assessed to determine the mechanisms behind particle capture on the four common fabrics. ENP penetration was found to be affected by fabric structure, surface hydrophobicity, and fiber type. CNT penetrated all fabrics significantly less than the other ENPs possibly due to their fiber shape and larger agglomerates than other ENPs. Tyvek� fabric was found to be the most protective against CB and Al2O3 penetration, while polypropylene was the least protective. Tyvek� was the most nonporous as well as the most hydrophobic fabric, explaining the low penetration across all three ENPs. Polypropylene is the most porous fabric and the most nonuniform, making it the least protective against ENPs.