Analysis of ways to reduce potential health risk from ultrafine and fine particles emitted from 3D printers in the makerspace

Abstract

The maker culture that allows anyone to make necessary things with his/her own hands has been prevalent. In line with this trend, the makerspace equipped with fabrication tools such as 3D printers, 3D scanners, and laser cutters has spread worldwide. 1 In particular, this spread has been accelerated with the expiration of a patent for the fused deposition modeling (FDM)-3D printer. The FDM-3D printer is the most commonly used device in the makerspace due to the initial purchase cost and material cost reductions as it melts the filament to produce stacked layers. 2,3 Despite these advantages, the FDM-3D printer serves as a primary source for the emission of ultrafine and fine particles from the process of melting the filament, and thus, may cause health problems among occupants. 4 Fine particles are substances with a particle diameter of less than 2.5 μm, while ultrafine particle are substances with a particle diameter of 0.1 μm (i.e., 100 nm) or less. 5 Because ultrafine and fine particles have very small diameters, they can be suspended in the air for a long time. In general, fine particles with a diameter of 1~10 μm are deposited in the bronchial tubes, and ultrafine particles with a diameter of less than 100 nm can be deposited in the alveoli, including the bronchi. While short-term exposure

Health and Safety in 3D Printing

“…In order to minimise the health effects of 3D printing, it is recommended (among other measures) that it be confined with an extraction system, using high-efficiency HEPA filters in the printing room and a good ventilation system in place [42], and whenever possible, select the lowest possible print temperature.…”

Additives influence 3D printer emission profiles: Implications for working safely with polymer filament composites

“…22 As users of FFF and other additive manufacturing techniques become better informed regarding respiratory exposures associated with equipment use, they may exercise appropriate levels of caution and use demonstrated techniques for reducing risk. 23 As research and development enable material extrusion of novel composite filaments of varying compositions to be commercialized and available for purchase, the collection, and reporting of emissions data will remain a priority for years to come, especially as standard methods are established to improve coherence and cross-comparability between laboratories. Measurement of particulate exposures, which may include compositions suspected to be polymeric in nature as well as engineered nanomaterials, are explored in this study.…”

“…Adverse health effects have been directly connected to 3D printer use, 19–21 and there is particular concern when particles emitted during printing may contain engineered nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) 22 . As users of FFF and other additive manufacturing techniques become better informed regarding respiratory exposures associated with equipment use, they may exercise appropriate levels of caution and use demonstrated techniques for reducing risk 23 …”