Nanomaterials & Electronic Products: Environmental Exposures and Work Practices

The changes within industries and their operating businesses in the early 21st century have resulted in a shift in the skills required  for industrial hygienists and environmental health specialists relating to emerging technology.

This course training will include:

  1. Fundamental knowledge of nanotechnology and nanomaterials (NMs) such as their applications in industry, exposure and emission pathways, and the air migration principles
  2. Occupational and environmental exposure and health effect concerns regarding NMs such as biological and toxicological responses in humans, in animals and in vitro bioassays in response to exposures, managements of exposures, and regulatory enforcement
  3. Best practices for controlling and preventing hazardous exposure, and guidance to manage occupational exposure to NMs and nanotechnology-enabled products, including: electronic waste which are projected to increasingly contribute to emerging categories such as quantum dots, graphene, and other functional nanoelectronics’ materials
  4. Exposure and environmental impacts of electronic waste and NM containing waste
  5. Industrial hygiene policy including universal precautions and health risk guidelines; such as hazard and control banding
  6. An authentic learning experience using augmented reality technology to provide a unique and modern learning experience for industrial hygiene and environmental health professionals/students

Daily Sessions

*Course registration is now full*

Monday, June 17:

  • 10:00am-12:00pm: Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology [In Person Session]
  • 1:00pm-3:00pm: Health Effects Caused by Nanomaterial & Nanotechnology-Enabled Products [In Person Session]

Tuesday, June 18:

  • 10:00am-12:00pm: VR/AR (Training Strategies on a Digital Platform) [In Person Session]
  • 1:00pm-3:00pm: Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology II [In Person Session]

Wednesday, June 19:

  • 10:00am-12:00pm: VR/AR (Training Strategies on a Digital Platform) II [In Person Session]
  • 1:00pm-3:00pm: E-Waste Exposure, Assessment, and Management [Virtual Session]

Thursday, June 20:

  • 10:00am-12:00pm: Health Effects Caused by Nanomaterial & Nanotechnology-Enabled Products [Virtual Session]

Other Course Instructors:

Dr. Tsai, Dr. Xia, Dr. Mathews, Dr. Ogunseitan, and Dr. Kim will deliver class courses and related activities in the five-day summer training workshop.

Learning Objectives:

Module 1: Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology

  1. Explain nanotechnology’s role in today’s society, in particular, today’s workplace.
  2. Define basic aerosol science principles and the potential health effects relevant to nanoparticles.
  3. Conduct a basic workplace evaluation for nanotechnology hazards.
  4. Apply the hierarchy of controls, including engineering controls and PPE, to nanoparticle exposure scenarios.

Module 2: Health Effects Caused by Nanomaterial & Nanotechnology-Enabled Products

  1. Understand the exposure pathways of engineered materials and potential adverse health effects.
  2. Define the predictive toxicology and high throughput screening approach for toxicity testing.
  3. Describe the mechanisms of acute toxicity induced by different kinds of nanomaterials.
  4. Describe the toxicity mechanisms of chronic toxicity induced by various nanomaterials and methods to design safer nanomaterials for industrial use.

Module 3: Training Strategies on a Digital Platform

  1. Explain the learning process and its limitations.
  2. Apply evidence-based learning strategies during the development of training experiences.
  3. Create impactful learning experiences for face-to-face, online, or hybrid format instruction.
  4. Apply alternative teaching strategies to keep learners engaged during instruction.

Module 4: E-Waste Exposure, Assessment & Management

  1. Introduction of the theoretical frameworks underpinning the attribution of materials used in electronics manufacturing to the burden of diseases, policy environment, and solutions including green chemistry and LCA.
  2. Characterize the hazards and toxicity issues associated with chemicals and materials of concern in electronic manufacturing and e-waste management.
  3. Delineate the exposure pathways for toxic chemicals encountered by various workers in the entire lifecycle of electronic products.
  4. Introduce alternatives analysis and multicriteria decision-making tools for upstream protection again hazardous chemicals and materials associated with electronic products.

Workshop Schedule:

Monday, June 17, 2024 Tuesday, June 18, 2024Wednesday, June 19, 2024Thursday, June 20, 2024
AM session
10am-12pm
Nanomaterials & Nanotechnology (Tsai)

[In person]
VR/AR (Matthews)

[In person]
VR/AR (Matthews)

[In person]
Health Effects (Xia)

[Virtual]
PM session
1pm-3pm
Health Effects (Tsai)

[In person]
Nanomaterials & Nanotechnology (Tsai)

[In person]
E-waste (Ogunseitan)

[Virtual]

*Note - virtual options for all lectures are available upon request. Please email Lizbeth at erc@ph.ucla.edu for more information. A certificate of training is given at the end of the week.

What Students Have Said:
  • "This is a great intro to a lot of the new technologies available."
  • "This program was very eye-opening and I learned a lot about various topics that I was unfamiliar with, such as nanoparticles and virtual and augmented reality. I gained a better perspective of these applications in research, and in industry."
  • "This was an informative program that covered a broad variety of topics. I know much more now about how EH&S is affected by new technologies in both positive and negative ways."
This workshop course is a part of the Southern California Superfund Research Program: Emerging and Nano Training Program, supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

Other Registration Options

Email Us: erc@ph.ucla.edu

Payment Terms:

Classes are subject to cancellation by the host due to low registration or scheduling issues. If a class is cancelled by the host, participants will receive a full refund of their original payment.

(rev. 11/6/09):

Participant cancellations must be in writing. Refund schedule due to participant-requested cancellations is:

  • 15 or more business days before the class: 80% of registration fee
  • 7-14 business days before the class: 50% of registration fee
  • Less than 7 days before the class and "no shows": No refund

If course materials such as books have been sent to course participants in advance, the cost of that material will be subtracted from the refund.

UCLA reserves the right to postpone an offering 7 days prior to the course date should minimum enrollment requirements not be met. If a program is canceled, you will be notified and your registration fee will be refunded in full, less the cost of course materials sent in advance if they are not returned in the condition in which they were received. The liability of UCLA is limited to the course fee.