PX-25-A001 - Assessment of Chemical Hazards Associated with 3D-Printing ✓ Most Recent

3D printing is widely used in non-industrial applications in schools, offices, and residential homes. Previous studies showed that 3D printing is a source of various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), depending on printing technologies, materials, and conditions. Emitted VOCs include irritants, carcinogens, and toxins, which could worsen indoor air quality and adversely impact the health of users and occupants. To assess the potential hazards and develop management strategies, it is important to understand the VOC emission profiles under different conditions. This study characterized VOC emissions from two 3D printing technologies and various materials using exposure chamber setups and standard testing methods. VOC and aldehyde samples were collected, identified and quantified with analytical methods following established methods. We found that the most abundantly emitted VOCs were associated with the monomers of the bulk materials for printing with both thermoplastics and resins. However, they only explained partial of VOC emissions, with up to 90% of the VOC emissions unlikely to be traceable from manufacturer provided material safety data sheets (SDSs). These VOCs could be associated with unspecified additives in SDSs and products from thermal degradation and photochemical reaction during printing. In addition, many of the emitted VOCs beyond specified in SDSs, such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, are hazardous to indoor environments and human health. Therefore, it is insufficient to assess chemical hazards and health implications from 3D printing by only referring to SDSs, additional evaluation is needed since VOC emissions from the printing processes could show different compositions than bulk raw materials.