Assessing exposure to harmful particles in production environments
Official title: NanoSafe Tested™ Facilities: Point-of-Need Exposure Assessment for Ultrafine Particulates, Microplastics, and Engineered Nanomaterials in Production Environments
Funded at Ita International LLC · NIH-11067392 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at tiny particles and plastics that can be released into the air during manufacturing processes like 3D printing and injection molding, to help keep workers safe by finding better ways to measure and understand their exposure to these potentially harmful materials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ita International LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newport News, United States) |
| Project start | June 3, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $313,372 |
| NIH project number | 1R43ES037180-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11067392 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include workers in industries that utilize 3D printing and other production technologies that generate ultrafine particulates and nanomaterials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who work in industries that do not involve exposure to ultrafine particulates, microplastics, or engineered nanomaterials may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on evaluating the levels of ultrafine particulates, microplastics, and engineered nanomaterials generated by new production technologies like 3D printing and traditional methods such as injection molding. It aims to develop reliable methods for measuring these airborne particles in real-world settings, where they can pose serious health risks. By addressing the gaps in current exposure assessment methodologies, the research seeks to provide better guidance for occupational health and safety. The project will involve the collection and analysis of air samples from production facilities to quantify the presence of these harmful materials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved safety standards and practices for workers exposed to harmful airborne particles in various production environments.
How similar studies have gone: While there is ongoing research into exposure assessment for ultrafine particulates and nanomaterials, this specific approach to measuring airborne concentrations in production settings is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Ita International LLC
Newport News, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hill, William Cary — Ita International LLC
- Study coordinator: Hill, William Cary
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.