Research funded by the Chemical Safety Research Program of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL; Northbrook, IL) set out to assess possible hazards to the general public using fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers in personal residences, educational institutions and work environments. Tests employing a standardized emission chamber and data analysis protocol showed that 3D printing produced high concentrations of ultrafine particles.
Concerns have arisen as to the potential negative health impact of these 3D printers, as they have increased in popularity in homes, classrooms and other small indoor environments, on vulnerable populations such as children, said a recent presentation at Indoor Air 2018 held in July of this year in Philadelphia, PA. Studies have recorded high levels of particles and volatile organic compounds (VOC) coming from 3D printers.
Until recently, a systematic characterization of particle emissions using a standard method has been lacking, and the mechanism of particle formation from 3D printers has been unclear. Toxicity studies on FDM-generated particles were also limited. In this most recent study, UL performed a comprehensive assessment of emissions from FDM 3D printers, including characterization of particle and VOC emission yields (emission per mass of filament consumed) via chamber experiment and estimations of composition and potential toxicity, said the study’s report.
Attempts to get comments on this study from Stratasys, maker of FDM 3D printers, were unsuccessful.
Testing was performed in a stainless-steel chamber designed to ASTM standard D6670 and UL Greenguard certification 2823. Test procedures and calculations of emissions followed BAM (2012), developed for testing emissions from laser printers. Particle composition was determined by aerosol mass spectroscopy and filament/particle composition by pyrolysis BC/MS. Toxicity tests focused on particle oxidative potential or oxidative stress responses. Particles were collected onto Teflon filters during chamber experiments and assessed with various cellular and acellular assays on filter extracts.
The results revealed that, in general, particle number concentration peaked at the beginning of the printing process, then dropped and reached a steady state as printing continued. Concentration profiles and total emissions largely depended on the filament material. For example, the most widely used feedstock material, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), generally emitted vastly more particles than polylactic acid (PLA).
Source:Plasticstoday
Concerns have arisen as to the potential negative health impact of these 3D printers, as they have increased in popularity in homes, classrooms and other small indoor environments, on vulnerable populations such as children, said a recent presentation at Indoor Air 2018 held in July of this year in Philadelphia, PA. Studies have recorded high levels of particles and volatile organic compounds (VOC) coming from 3D printers.
Until recently, a systematic characterization of particle emissions using a standard method has been lacking, and the mechanism of particle formation from 3D printers has been unclear. Toxicity studies on FDM-generated particles were also limited. In this most recent study, UL performed a comprehensive assessment of emissions from FDM 3D printers, including characterization of particle and VOC emission yields (emission per mass of filament consumed) via chamber experiment and estimations of composition and potential toxicity, said the study’s report.
Attempts to get comments on this study from Stratasys, maker of FDM 3D printers, were unsuccessful.
Testing was performed in a stainless-steel chamber designed to ASTM standard D6670 and UL Greenguard certification 2823. Test procedures and calculations of emissions followed BAM (2012), developed for testing emissions from laser printers. Particle composition was determined by aerosol mass spectroscopy and filament/particle composition by pyrolysis BC/MS. Toxicity tests focused on particle oxidative potential or oxidative stress responses. Particles were collected onto Teflon filters during chamber experiments and assessed with various cellular and acellular assays on filter extracts.
The results revealed that, in general, particle number concentration peaked at the beginning of the printing process, then dropped and reached a steady state as printing continued. Concentration profiles and total emissions largely depended on the filament material. For example, the most widely used feedstock material, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), generally emitted vastly more particles than polylactic acid (PLA).
Source:Plasticstoday
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