Risk assessment of polymer composites containing cellulose nanofibrils (CNF): Considerations of industrial production

In 2016 Tappi International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials we reported results on risk analysis of polymer composites containing CNF, based on the production at laboratory scale. Besides occupational exposure, the assessment also took into account consumer exposure and end-of-life. The overall conclusion of the risk evaluation was that no major concerns were found in the production, use and waste handling of the composites. In this presentation, we will take a step further and discuss the results of risk assessment performed for CNF-containing polymer composites produced at small industrial scale. The exposure assessment will again take into account both the occupational and consumer exposure as well as exposure to environment. The occupational exposure assessment will be based on the processes of a small enterprise. The consumer exposure will be assessed based on the intented use of the product and for environmental exposure, both the exposure during production and end-of-life will be taken into account. As risk is the combination of exposure and hazard, both of these aspects will be considered in the final risk assessment of industrially produced CNF-containing polymer composites.