As 3D printing technologies remain popular and available to the public, concerns exist about the health impact of chemical and particle emissions released during their operation. This is especially true when printers are used in small or poorly ventilated indoor environments, and when vulnerable users like children are involved. The non-profit organization Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI), of UL Research Institutes has been answering questions about this health concern by conducting scientific research and providing science-based resources around the safety of 3D printing. CIRI began its research in partnership with Georgia Institute of Technology in 2015 when it initiated a multi-year project to characterize emissions from 3D printers. Since then, its research has expanded by studying diverse technologies and a wide array of print media and applications of 3D printing. In their new interactive data portal, CIRI has consolidated its research data and made it available for people interested in 3D printing.
CIRI’s research found that during operation, 3D printers can emit hundreds of different volatile organic compounds (VOCs), many of which are known irritants, odorants, and carcinogens. Without mitigation, some of the VOCs measured during printing may exceed current recommended exposure guidelines for acceptable indoor air quality. In addition, 3D printing particle emissions can reach up to one trillion particles per hour and are mostly ultrafine particles (smaller than 100 nm in size) which can be inhaled and penetrate deeply into the lungs resulting in adverse cardiovascular and pulmonary health effects. In fact, without mitigation, particle exposure levels can exceed those found near a busy highway. CIRI’s data show that printer operational parameters such as printer brand; print filament material, brand and color; and extrusion temperature all have a measurable impact on emission levels of particles and VOCs.
This research has led to numerous resources providing accessible, understandable, and actionable information on alleviating these potential health hazards and allowing users to innovate safely using 3D printing. One big win came when the stakeholder consensus ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard, ANSI/CAN/UL 2904 Standard Method for Testing and Assessing Particle and Chemical Emissions from 3D Printers was published. This standard allows for consistent and accurate measurements of particle and chemical emissions from defined printers and print media and provides acceptance criteria for indoor air. It also allows purchasers and users to identify printers that were tested and certified to meet low emission criteria.
Data from CIRI’s new 3D printing data portal.
As CIRI continues to expand their 3D printing research by investigating new 3D printing technologies and mitigation methods, their findings are published in scientific journals and presented at technical conferences. Still, transparency and accessibility of their research are core values at CIRI. With the launch of their new website, access to the new interactive data portal was made public. This data portal houses all research data generated from CIRI’s research on particle and chemical emissions from fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing as tested according to ANSI/CAN/UL 2904. Users can explore and interact with the data in real time to display particle and chemical emission information for selected filament materials that are commonly available on the market. Specifically, users can find particle and individual VOC emission rates; specific VOCs emitted and their associated health or indoor air quality concerns; the impact of print conditions on emissions; and comparison to acceptable emission criteria. Data can be presented in figures and tables that can be downloaded and users can sort and search to find specific data of interest.
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