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posted by martyb on Wednesday November 14 2018, @03:54AM   Printer-friendly
from the can-you-3D-print-a-gas-mask? dept.

Submitted via IRC for SoyCow0824

3D Printers Can Spew Toxic Cancer-Causing Chemicals, New Report Reveals

Multi-year research conducted by Georgia Institute of Technology and UL Chemical Safety suggests low-cost 3D-printing devices could pose a health risk by harming indoor air quality.

Publishing their work in two separate studies in Aerosol Science and Technology, one in 2017 and another in 2018, the researchers tested how 3D printers emitted particles when in a controlled environment. They found that as a byproduct, 3D printers generate a range of different-sized particles, including ultrafine particles, which can be inhaled into the pulmonary system, resulting in adverse effects on respiratory health.

“These printers tend to produce particles that are very small, especially at the beginning of the print process, and in an environment without good ventilation, they could significantly reduce indoor air quality,” said lead researcher Rodney Weber in a statement

[...]“We found that one of the overriding principles is the temperature of the filament,” said Weber. “If you use a filament that requires a higher temperature to melt, such as ABS plastic, you produce more particles than PLA plastic filaments, which require lower temperatures.”

[...] The researchers recommend a few steps you can take at home to lessen the impact on air quality when using 3D printers, including operating them only in well-ventilated areas, setting the nozzle temperature on the lowest suggested setting, keeping a distance from operating machines, and using materials and machines that have been tested and shown to have low emissions.


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  • (Score: 1, Troll) by DannyB on Wednesday November 14 2018, @08:54PM

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 14 2018, @08:54PM (#761902) Journal

    Instead of spewing toxic chemicals, how about a software option to form the spew into a nice concentrated stream which can then be collected into small tide-pod sized treats.

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