Dosimetric and Toxicological Analysis of 3D Printer Emitted Particles

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is an exciting innovation that has transformed research, manufacturing, and student experience particularly in STEM curricula throughout secondary and post-secondary education. As with so many new technologies, there are unintended safety and health considerations that must be managed. Fused filament fabrication is a popular 3DP method that involves heating, cooling, and manipulating thermoplastics that can result in airborne emissions of numerous chemicals and particulate matter (PM). This report provides scientific insights on the potential toxicological properties of inhaled particles emitted from FFF 3D printers during operation. In this report provided by Georgia State University, aerosol measurement tools were used to study the particle emissions from two of the most common 3DP filaments, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA).