This just showed up on Slashdot. What are you thoughts? Are you worried for your health?
It doesn’t seem to mention which printers it’s referring to? What these “nanoparticles” consist of, what filament was used (company, formulation), etc. Seriously a lack of data here other than “it does it”…
Hmm… Panic time yet? Honestly, I think it’s common sense to use it in a well-ventilated area, you can have problems with dust from cutting wood or anything else. Unfortunately, we don’t always have the luxury of the right setup and we print anyway. Tinfoil caps and respirators, everyone.
Wait, so they’re saying 3D printing generates the same level of UFPs as stovetop cooking does and I should give a shit because…
@ThantiK
All printers are concerned because they all melt plastic and all brands of (PLA and ABS) plastics are concerned because the base formula is the same.
Neither impressed nor worried.
ABS filament is people!!
Necessity is the mother of invention…easy enough.
Just build a negative pressure box with fans and vent to outside.
Been printing with pla for a while, I have noticed very very fine hair can appear but I leave it till the printer finishes befor cleaning away. “But am not one for shoving my head in to the build plate to watch a print either”. But compared to my local air pollution am breathing worse in. Am guessing a well calibrated printer will reduce reduce this issue, but I also like too see other studies done as well. Happy printing all
Mine’s sitting below an open window, in the basement, so there’s at least some drafts coming through. I did notice that I’d get a sore throat if I inhaled the ABS fumes for too long, but I think the most important part of the research abstract is “The emission rates were similar to those measured in previous studies of several other devices and indoor activities, including cooking on a gas or electric stove, burning scented candles, operating laser printers, or even burning a cigarette.”
Not a great, but a decent initial study I think.
The main results of the article:
(removed references, those are in the full article)
“For comparison, our estimate of the total UFP emission rate for a single PLA-based 3D printer (1.9-2.0×1010 #/min) was similar to that reported during cooking with an electric frying pan (1.1-2.7×1010 #/min). The same 3D printer utilizing a higher temperature ABS feedstock had an emission rate estimate (1.8-2.0×1011 #/min) similar to that reported during grilling food on gas or electric stoves at low power (1.2-2.9×1011 #/min), but approximately an order of magnitude lower than gas or electric stoves operating at high power (1.2-3.4×1012 #/min). Regardless, the desktop 3D printers measured herein can all be classified as “high emitters” with UFP emission rates greater than 1010 particles per min”
And:
“One important limitation to this study is that we have no information about the chemical constituents of the UFPs emitted from either type of 3D printer, although condensation of synthetic organic vapors from the thermoplastic feedstocks are likely a large contributor. In addition to large differences in emission rates observed between PLA- and ABS-based 3D printers, there may also be differences in toxicity because of differences in chemical composition. As mentioned, thermal decomposition products from ABS have been shown to have toxic effects; however, PLA is known for its biocompatibility and PLA nanoparticles are widely used in drug delivery .”
Anyway, I never figured ABS fumes to be very safe, especially in cases of ABS gunk burning up on the nozzle.
PLA is of course a lot “safer” but I doubt it’s healthy when PLA gunk burns up at the nozzle.
And small amounts of plastic can create large amounts of fume/particles.
That said, I always advocate using printers in well ventilated rooms and/or use a filtered/ventilated enclosure for the printer itself.
“The emission rates were similar to those measured in previous studies of several other devices and indoor activities, including cooking on a gas or electric stove, burning scented candles, operating laser printers, or even burning a cigarette.”
I’m sure I do a lot worse to myself on an hourly basis. Interesting find though
… like @Allister_Cucksey said I do worse to my self in one day (pack a day smoker) than my printer has or will do to me since I’ve owned it.
I mainly print abs and never notice a smell, never get headaches sore throats etc. The only time I notice anything is when I start pla and I have to purge the hot end pla at 210 smells kinda sweet. (Not in the cool way)
And at what temps are they running there pla and abs? Higher than recommended or lower?