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| Abstract Title:
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| Resuspension of Nanoparticles with Application to Occupational Exposure
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| Graduate Student Presenter:
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Julio L. Rivera
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| Name of the Author(s) and Affiliation(s):
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Julio L. Rivera; Donna. J. Michalek; and John W. Sutherland, Sustainable Future Institute
, Michigan Technological University
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Industry, academia, and the government are all experiencing an increase in interest and research related to nanotechnology. The emerging field of nanotechnology is expected to lead to unprecedented understanding and control of the composition of matter. Areas that may be impacted by nanotechnology include medicine, materials, environment, and energy. With the burgeoning development of nanotechnologies, concerns are surfacing regarding the implications of such technologies on society and the environment. One of the concerns is the health impact that might result from exposure to airborne nanomaterials in the workplace. At this point little to no information is available to characterize the potential occupational exposure to nanomaterials.
To contribute to knowledge on the mechanisms that produce airborne nanoparticles that lead to occupational exposure, a research project has been initiated to investigate the resuspension of nanoparticles (< 0.1 microns) from surfaces as they interact with air currents. The technical literature has been investigated extensively, and it appears that the drag force plays a dominant role in particle detachment from surfaces. A research plan has been developed, using a computational approach, to develop models for the behavior of a single spherical particle (and subsequently a group of particles) when acted on by an air stream, and ultimately the behavior of such particles once they are detached. The model for single spherical nanoparticle is being developed and validated. Preliminary results from the computational simulation are presented and compared with established models.
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