A literature review of the human health effects associated with occupational exposure to advanced materials

Advanced materials (AMs) is a term applied to a wide range of material groups and categories that possess unique physicochemical properties that offer novel functionality compared to traditional materials. Although the potential benefits are significant, it is important to understand the potential health, safety and environmental risks of AMs throughout their life cycle. This study reviewed current peer-reviewed literature on the ill-health effects associated with occupational exposure to AMs. Using a combination of material, health and occupation-related terms, the Web of Science was used to search for relevant studies, focusing on those published from 2010 onwards. After screening 1336 initial results, 23 were included. There was limited evidence to link occupational exposures to the AMs discussed in this review and ill-health, likely due to the long latency often associated with ill-health symptoms, the fact that AMs have been introduced relatively recently or that the prevalence and intensity of exposure remains low. Many AMs are not yet used widely across industry, so correlations between exposure and ill-health may not yet be apparent. Potential health impacts cannot be considered collectively across all AMs, as the nature of each material type and potential health risks are diverse. Furthermore, the lack of health studies for specific groups of AMs cannot provide enough information to draw strong conclusions. Considering these limitations, it may be pertinent to take a precautionary approach when working with AMs, and to consider using data from hazard/toxicity studies when assessing risk.