Dataset Information

Particle and organic vapor emissions from children's 3-D pen and 3-D printer toys.

ABSTRACT: Objective: Fused filament fabrication "3-dimensional (3-D)" printing has expanded beyond the workplace to 3-D printers and pens for use by children as toys to create objects.Materials and methods: Emissions from two brands of toy 3-D pens and one brand of toy 3-D printer were characterized in a 0.6?m³ chamber (particle number, size, elemental composition; concentrations of individual and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC)). The effects of print parameters on these emission metrics were evaluated using mixed-effects models. Emissions data were used to model particle lung deposition and TVOC exposure potential.Results: Geometric mean particle yields (10⁶-10¹⁰ particles/g printed) and sizes (30-300?nm) and TVOC yields (3 in a classroom and 3-154?µg/m³ in a residential living room.Discussion: Potential exists for inhalation of organic vapors and metal-containing particles during use of these toys.Conclusions: If deemed appropriate, e.g. where multiple toys are used in a poorly ventilated area or a toy is positioned near a child's breathing zone, control technologies should be implemented to reduce emissions and exposure risk.

SUBMITTER: Yi J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6995422 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov - Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Particle and organic vapor emissions from children's 3-D pen and 3-D printer toys.

Yi Jinghai J Duling Matthew G MG Bowers Lauren N LN Knepp Alycia K AK LeBouf Ryan F RF Nurkiewicz Timothy R TR Ranpara Anand A Luxton Todd T Martin Stephen B SB Burns Dru A DA Peloquin Derek M DM Baumann Eric J EJ Virji M Abbas MA Stefaniak Aleksandr B AB

Inhalation toxicology 20191101 13-14

Objective: Fused filament fabrication "3-dimensional (3-D)" printing has expanded beyond the workplace to 3-D printers and pens for use by children as toys to create objects.Materials and methods: Emissions from two brands of toy 3-D pens and one brand of toy 3-D printer were characterized in a 0.6 m3 chamber (particle number, size, elemental composition; concentrations of individual and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC)). The effects of print parameters on these e ...[more]

PMID: 31874579

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Project description:Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM®), also known as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), 3D printers have been shown in numerous studies to emit ultrafine particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Filament extruders, designed to create feedstocks for 3D printers, have recently come onto the consumer market for at-home hobbyists as an alternative to buying 3D printer filaments. These instruments allow for the creation of 3D printer filaments from raw plastic pellets. Given the similarity in processes and materials used by 3D printers and filament extruders, we hypothesized that filament extruders may also release ultrafine particle emissions and VOCs. An off-the-shelf filament extruder was operated in a 2 m3 chamber using three separate feedstocks: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) pellets, pulverized poly-lactic acid (PLA), and PLA pellets. Ultrafine particle emissions were measured in real-time using a scanning mobility particle sizer and thermal desorption tubes were used for both non-targeted and targeted analysis of VOCs present in emissions. Ultrafine particle number emission rates were comparable to those found in 3D printer studies with the greatest to least emission rates from ABS pellets, pulverized PLA, and PLA pellets, respectively. In addition, the majority of particles released were found to be ultrafine (1-100 nm), similar to 3D printer studies. A variety of VOCs were identified using the ABS feedstock, including styrene and ethylbenzene, and PLA feedstock. Styrene average mass concentration amounts were found to be near the EPA Integrated Risk Information System Reference Concentration for Inhalation Exposure for 3 min and 5 min samples. Further studies will be needed to determine the impact on emissions of environmental volume, air exchange rate, and extruder settings such as extrusion speed and temperature. The results support the hypothesis that use of a filament extruder may present an additional exposure risk to 3D printer hobbyists.

Project description:Desktop fused deposition modeling (FDM®) three-dimensional (3D) printers are becoming increasingly popular in schools, libraries, and among home hobbyists. FDM® 3D printers have been shown to release ultrafine airborne particles in large amounts, indicating the potential for inhalation exposure and consequent health risks among FDM® 3D printer users and other room occupants including children. These particles are generated from the heating of thermoplastic polymer feedstocks during the FDM® 3D printing process, with the most commonly used polymers being acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and poly-lactic acid (PLA). Risk assessment of these exposures demands estimation of internal dose, especially to address intra-human variability across life stages. Dosimetry models have proven to effectively translate particle exposures to internal dose metrics relevant to evaluation of their effects in the respiratory tract. We used the open-access multiple path particle dosimetry (MPPD v3.04) model to estimate inhaled particle deposition in different regions of the respiratory tract for children of various age groups from three months to eighteen years old adults. Mass concentration data for input into the MPPD model were calculated using particle size distribution and density data from experimental FDM® 3D printer emissions tests using both ABS and PLA. The impact of changes in critical parameters that are principal determinants of inhaled dose, including: sex, age, and exposure duration, was examined using input parameter values available from the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Internal dose metrics used included regional mass deposition, mass deposition normalized by pulmonary surface area, surface area of deposited particles by pulmonary surface area, and retained regional mass. Total mass deposition was found to be highest in the 9-year-old to 18-year-old age groups with mass deposition by pulmonary surface area highest in 3-month-olds to 9-year-olds and surface area of deposited particles by pulmonary surface area to be highest in 9-year-olds. Clearance modeling revealed that frequent 3D printer users are at risk for an increased cumulative retained dose.

Project description:Little is known about emissions and exposure potential from vat polymerization additive manufacturing, a process that uses light-activated polymerization of a resin to build an object. Five vat polymerization printers (three stereolithography (SLA) and two digital light processing (DLP) were evaluated individually in a 12.85 m3 chamber. Aerosols (number, size) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were measured using real-time monitors. Carbonyl vapors and particulate matter were collected for offline analysis using impingers and filters, respectively. During printing, particle emission yields (#/g printed) ranged from 1.3 ± 0.3 to 2.8 ± 2.6 x 108 (SLA printers) and from 3.3 ± 1.5 to 9.2 ± 3.0 x 108 (DLP printers). Yields for number of particles with sizes 5.6 to 560 nm (#/g printed) were 0.8 ± 0.1 to 2.1 ± 0.9 x 1010 and from 1.1 ± 0.3 to 4.0 ± 1.2 x 1010 for SLA and DLP printers, respectively. TVOC yield values (µg/g printed) ranged from 161 ± 47 to 322 ± 229 (SLA printers) and from 1281 ± 313 to 1931 ± 234 (DLP printers). Geometric mean mobility particle sizes were 41.1-45.1 nm for SLA printers and 15.3-28.8 nm for DLP printers. Mean particle and TVOC yields were statistically significantly higher and mean particle sizes were significantly smaller for DLP printers compared with SLA printers (p < 0.05). Energy dispersive X-ray analysis of individual particles qualitatively identified potential occupational carcinogens (chromium, nickel) as well as reactive metals implicated in generation of reactive oxygen species (iron, zinc). Lung deposition modeling indicates that about 15-37% of emitted particles would deposit in the pulmonary region (alveoli). Benzaldehyde (1.0-2.3 ppb) and acetone (0.7-18.0 ppb) were quantified in emissions from four of the printers and 4-oxopentanal (0.07 ppb) was detectable in the emissions from one printer. Vat polymerization printers emitted nanoscale particles that contained potential carcinogens, sensitizers, and reactive metals as well as carbonyl compound vapors. Differences in emissions between SLA and DLP printers indicate that the underlying technology is an important factor when considering exposure reduction strategies such as engineering controls.

Dataset Information

Particle and organic vapor emissions from children's 3-D pen and 3-D printer toys.

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Particle and organic vapor emissions from children's 3-D pen and 3-D printer toys.

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