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3D Printers Produce Toxic Emissions That are Worse for Younger Kids

Studies revealed "moderate toxicity in human lung cells" with <9-year-olds at higher risk

By Rain Noe - December 16, 2020

The growing popularity of 3D printers in schools, workshops, design firms, maker spaces and homes has far outpaced any research into the potential health hazards of the technology. But new information released yesterday, at the Exposure and Risk Assessment of 3D Printing and Emerging Materials symposium presented at the Society for Risk Analysis' virtual annual meeting, should raise some eyebrows.

Image by Lutz Peter from Pixabay

A study conducted by NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) looked at the emissions generated by FDM 3D printing using ABS filaments. They found that "the emitted particles cause moderate toxicity in human lung cells."

The EPA conducted similar testing, including a computer simulation model used "to predict the number of particles deposited at specific locations in the respiratory tract, and how that pattern changes for individuals of different ages, when using a 3D printer." This produced some worrying data:

"The simulation model predicted higher deposition of particle mass per surface area in the pulmonary region for individuals ages nine and younger."

The conclusion of the studies is that more testing is required; indeed, I'd like to see how the results stack up with filaments of different plastics. But for the time being, it seems prudent to keep children away from 3D printers while they're doing their thing.

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3D Printers Produce Toxic Emissions That are Worse for Younger Kids

Lyuba Halacheva

3 months ago

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Isn't that already established as a rule of thumb? PLA is ok without ventilation, ABS needs ventilation.

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Ray Jepson

4 months ago

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I wonder what the results are from other extruded materials. Seems like common sense that burning ABS near kids is a bad idea...anyways.

In the last office where we had some cheapo FDM printers, I placed them with the printer in a separate room. Looks like I had good reason!

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Rain Noe

I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.