Characteristics and health risks of the inhalable fraction of metal additive manufacturing powders

Abstract

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) is gaining traction but raises worker health concerns due to micron‐sized powders, including fine inhalable particles. This study explored particle and surface characteristics, electrochemical properties, metal release in artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF), and potential toxicity of virgin and sieved virgin Fe‐based powders, stainless steel (316L), Fe, and two tooling steels. Virgin particles ranged in size from 1 to 100 µm, while sieved particles were within the respirable size range (<5–10 µm). Surface oxide composition differed from bulk composition. The Fe powder showed low corrosion resistance and high metal release due to a lack of protective surface oxide. Sieved particles of 316L, Fe, and one tooling steel released more metals into ALF than virgin particles, with the opposite was observed for the other tooling steel. Sieved particles had no notable impact on cell viability or micronuclei formation in human bronchial epithelial cells. Inflammatory response in human macrophages was generally low, except for the Fe powder and one tooling steel, which induced increased interleukin‐8 (IL‐8/CXCL‐8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1/CCL‐2) secretion. This study underscores distinctions between virgin and sieved Fe‐based powders and suggests relatively low acute toxicity.