Review of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from desktop 3D printers and associated health implications.

IF 4.7 3区 医学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Danielle A Baguley, Gareth S Evans, Delphine Bard, Paul S Monks, Rebecca L Cordell
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a technique by which materials are continually added in layers to form structures. The technique has grown in popularity over the past decade and affordable desktop 3D printers are now widely used in schools, universities, businesses, and hospitals.

Objective: Understanding the types of chemical emissions from these 3D printers and their potential health effects is essential to safely use this technology.

Methods: A scoping literature review on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from resin-bed and filament 3D printers has been conducted. Most of the published research has focused on emissions from filament 3D printers.

Results: VOC emissions from resin 3D printers have been reported mostly as carbonyl compounds or methacrylate monomers. Filament VOC emissions are more varied in composition reflecting the constituents in the filaments used in this printer. The published research reported that the airborne concentrations of specific VOCs from 3D desktop printers fell below the HSE British workplace exposure limits (WELs). This may suggest that VOC emissions from these printers do not present a risk to occupational health. However, caution is required in reaching this conclusion because most of these studies quantified specific VOC emissions using methods different to those required by workplace regulatory standards. Other exposure circumstances, such as the effect of total VOC emissions, need to be considered, particularly for vulnerable groups, including individuals with respiratory disease, the elderly, or young children. Variables that could increase exposure and risks to health include long print times, multiple 3D printers, and poor ventilation. Research on the VOC emissions from resin 3D printers is required using experimental emission chambers.

Impact: The research discussed in this review focused on VOC emissions from desktop 3D printers and the potential health impacts associated with exposure to these compounds. The review identifies circumstances when people may be exposed to 3D printer emissions for which no regulatory exposure limits apply. This circumstance is especially relevant to people working in small businesses and organisations and to vulnerable people, such as the young, elderly and those with pre-existing lung disease. Raising awareness of these potential health concerns from 3D printer emissions can help to inform actions to mitigate exposure, through policy and behavioural changes, as well as engineering control measures. To our knowledge, this is the first review discussing studies of VOC emission from resin and popular filament 3D printers, including exposure risks and health outcomes.

桌面3D打印机的挥发性有机化合物(VOC)排放及其对健康的影响。
背景:三维(3D)打印是一种将材料不断分层添加以形成结构的技术。这项技术在过去十年中越来越受欢迎,价格实惠的台式3D打印机现在广泛用于学校、大学、企业和医院。目的:了解这些3D打印机的化学排放类型及其潜在的健康影响对于安全使用这项技术至关重要。方法:对树脂床和长丝3D打印机挥发性有机化合物(VOC)排放进行了广泛的文献综述。大多数已发表的研究都集中在长丝3D打印机的排放上。结果:树脂3D打印机挥发性有机化合物的排放主要是羰基化合物或甲基丙烯酸酯单体。长丝挥发性有机化合物排放的成分变化更大,反映了在这台打印机中使用的长丝的成分。发表的研究报告称,3D桌面打印机产生的特定挥发性有机化合物的空气浓度低于英国HSE工作场所暴露限值(WELs)。这可能表明这些打印机排放的挥发性有机化合物不会对职业健康构成风险。然而,在得出这个结论时需要谨慎,因为大多数这些研究使用的方法与工作场所监管标准所要求的方法不同。需要考虑其他暴露情况,例如VOC总排放量的影响,特别是对弱势群体,包括呼吸道疾病患者、老年人或幼儿。可能增加暴露和健康风险的变量包括打印时间长、多台3D打印机和通风不良。研究树脂3D打印机挥发性有机化合物的排放需要使用实验排放室。影响:本综述中讨论的研究重点是桌面3D打印机的VOC排放以及与暴露于这些化合物相关的潜在健康影响。该审查确定了人们可能暴露于3D打印机排放而不适用监管暴露限制的情况。这种情况与在小型企业和组织工作的人以及年轻人、老年人和先前患有肺病的人等弱势群体尤其相关。提高人们对3D打印机排放的这些潜在健康问题的认识,有助于通过政策和行为改变以及工程控制措施,为减少暴露的行动提供信息。据我们所知,这是第一次讨论树脂和流行的长丝3D打印机VOC排放的研究,包括暴露风险和健康结果。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
8.90
自引率
6.70%
发文量
93
审稿时长
3 months
期刊介绍: Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (JESEE) aims to be the premier and authoritative source of information on advances in exposure science for professionals in a wide range of environmental and public health disciplines. JESEE publishes original peer-reviewed research presenting significant advances in exposure science and exposure analysis, including development and application of the latest technologies for measuring exposures, and innovative computational approaches for translating novel data streams to characterize and predict exposures. The types of papers published in the research section of JESEE are original research articles, translation studies, and correspondence. Reported results should further understanding of the relationship between environmental exposure and human health, describe evaluated novel exposure science tools, or demonstrate potential of exposure science to enable decisions and actions that promote and protect human health.
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