The main risk associated with 3D printing is the exposure to harmful emissions from the printing process, such as ultrafine particles, volatile organic compounds, and toxic gases. These emissions can pose health hazards to the users and bystanders of 3D printers, especially in poorly ventilated or enclosed spaces. In this article, we will explore the sources, effects, and solutions of this risk in more detail.
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process that creates physical objects from digital models by depositing layers of material on top of each other. Depending on the type of material and technology used, 3D printing can involve heating, melting, curing, or fusing the material with lasers, ultraviolet light, or electron beams. These processes can generate various types of emissions, such as:
Ultrafine particles (UFPs): These are tiny particles that are less than 0.1 micrometers in diameter. They can be formed from the vaporization and condensation of the material during the heating or melting process. UFPs can also be released from the abrasion or friction of the material during the printing or post-processing stages. UFPs can easily penetrate the lungs and the bloodstream and cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular or respiratory diseases[^1^][1] [^2^][2].
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): These are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure and can evaporate into the air at room temperature. They can be emitted from the material itself, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polylactic acid (PLA), or from the additives, such as colorants, stabilizers, or plasticizers, that are used to enhance the properties or performance of the material. VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, cause headaches, nausea, or dizziness, and increase the risk of cancer or liver damage[^3^][3] [^4^][4].
Toxic gases: These are gases that can have harmful effects on the health or the environment. They can be produced from the thermal decomposition or combustion of the material during the printing process. Some examples of toxic gases that can be emitted from 3D printing are carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, and styrene[^5^][5] . These gases can cause suffocation, asphyxiation, or poisoning, and contribute to air pollution or global warming.
The effects of emissions from 3D printing depend on several factors, such as the type, amount, and duration of exposure, the characteristics of the material and the printer, the environmental conditions, and the individual susceptibility of the person. However, some general effects that have been observed or reported are:
Acute effects: These are short-term effects that occur immediately or shortly after exposure. They can include irritation, inflammation, or allergic reactions of the eyes, skin, or respiratory tract, headache, fatigue, nausea, or dizziness, coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath, or chest pain, palpitations, or arrhythmia .
Chronic effects: These are long-term effects that occur after repeated or prolonged exposure. They can include respiratory diseases, such as asthma, bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, or coronary heart disease, neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, or cancer, such as lung, liver, or kidney cancer .
Environmental effects: These are effects that impact the quality of the air, water, or soil, or the biodiversity of the ecosystems. They can include increased levels of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide or methane, that contribute to global warming and climate change, increased levels of ozone or smog, that reduce visibility and harm plants and animals, or increased levels of heavy metals, such as lead or cadmium, that contaminate the water or soil and affect the food chain .
Solutions for emissions from 3D printing
The solutions for emissions from 3D printing can be classified into three categories: prevention, protection, and mitigation. They can involve actions from the manufacturers, the users, or the regulators of 3D printers. Some examples of solutions are:
Prevention: This involves reducing or eliminating the sources or causes of emissions from 3D printing. It can include using safer or greener materials, such as biodegradable or recycled plastics, or materials that emit less or no emissions, such as ceramics or metals, using more efficient or cleaner technologies, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM) or selective laser sintering (SLS), or optimizing the printing parameters, such as temperature, speed, or layer thickness, to minimize the material waste or energy consumption .
Protection: This involves shielding or isolating the users or bystanders from the emissions from 3D printing. It can include using proper ventilation or filtration systems, such as exhaust fans, air purifiers, or high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, to remove or dilute the emissions from the indoor air, using personal protective equipment (PPE), such as goggles, gloves, or masks, to prevent direct contact or inhalation of the emissions, or using enclosed or remote-controlled printers, to limit the exposure or access to the printing area .
Mitigation: This involves reducing or reversing the effects or impacts of emissions from 3D printing. It can include monitoring or measuring the levels or concentrations of emissions from 3D printing, using sensors, detectors, or indicators, to assess the potential risk or harm, seeking medical attention or treatment, if experiencing any symptoms or signs of exposure, or following proper disposal or recycling methods, for the unused or excess material or the printed objects, to prevent environmental contamination or pollution .
3D printing is a revolutionary technology that offers many benefits and opportunities for various industries and applications. However, it also poses a significant risk to the health and safety of the users and bystanders, as well as the environment, due to the emissions from the printing process. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the sources, effects, and solutions of this risk, and to take appropriate measures to prevent, protect, or mitigate the emissions from 3D printing. By doing so, we can ensure that 3D printing is not only a powerful tool, but also a responsible and sustainable one.
