Chicago Section

Material extrusion 3D printing is found to emit high levels of ultrafine particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can deteriorate indoor air quality and cause adverse health effects in humans, especially for vulnerable people and/or used in non-industrial environments. Our continuous research focuses on understanding the health impacts from 3D printing; this talk will discuss the key findings from our two recent studies. One study is laboratory particle toxicity analysis focusing on metal emissions from 3D printing. We analyzed the metal compositions of various raw materials and the emitted particles to evaluate the transfer of metals during the printing process. We also estimated the inhalable metal and particle exposures in home, office and school environments and evaluated the potential hazards. The other study is a field study monitoring air quality in school classrooms with 3D printers. We measured particle and VOC levels in various school classrooms and evaluated the effectiveness of several exposure mitigation strategies on reducing exposure levels. We also collected particle samples and assessed their toxicity using biological analysis methods. Research findings from chamber and field studies, as well as study design and approaches will be presented.

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