<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

While many people work remotely during the pandemic, three-dimensional (3D) printers are working to ensure the medical personnel and general public with the necessary specific materials. Ease of use, low cost, fast prototyping, and a wide range of materials are the advantages of 3D technology that can quickly adapt to specific needs in different application areas and result in increased popularity. The aim was to analyse the concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in 3D printing zone where printers are located throughout the room around the perimeter and where orthopaedics and designers develop models during their full shift. The average ultrafine particles (UFP) concentration level fluctuates from 4×103 to 26×103 particles/cm3 that exceed the background level (&lt;3×103 particles/cm3) during 8 h-shift. Microclimate was evaluated as unsatisfied regarding permissible values for air quality at workplaces: air temperature exceeds permissible upper level +25 °C, relative humidity was 21.5 % and air velocity ≤0.05 m/s. The highest particles’ number concentrations in the nano-scale range (&lt;0.1 μm) and significantly higher mass concentrations in the coarse particle range (>2.5 μm) were detected. The median diameters of particle number (0.019, 0.014, 0.015 μm) and mass concentrations (4.394, 4.433, and 4.677 μm) were similar in all observed premises. Total VOC concentration was increased and specific substances such as toluene and formaldehyde (0.56±0.1 and 0.23±0.034 mg/m3) were found at high concentration in comparison with indoor air quality recommendations.
</abstract>

While many people work remotely during the pandemic, three-dimensional (3D) printers are working to ensure the medical personnel and general public with the necessary specific materials. Ease of use, low cost, fast prototyping, and a wide range of materials are the advantages of 3D technology that can quickly adapt to specific needs in different application areas and result in increased popularity. The aim was to analyse the concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in 3D printing zone where printers are located throughout the room around the perimeter and where orthopaedics and designers develop models during their full shift. The average ultrafine particles (UFP) concentration level fluctuates from 4×103 to 26×103 particles/cm3 that exceed the background level (<3×103 particles/cm3) during 8 h-shift. Microclimate was evaluated as unsatisfied regarding permissible values for air quality at workplaces: air temperature exceeds permissible upper level +25 °C, relative humidity was 21.5 % and air velocity ≤0.05 m/s. The highest particles’ number concentrations in the nano-scale range (<0.1 μm) and significantly higher mass concentrations in the coarse particle range (>2.5 μm) were detected. The median diameters of particle number (0.019, 0.014, 0.015 μm) and mass concentrations (4.394, 4.433, and 4.677 μm) were similar in all observed premises. Total VOC concentration was increased and specific substances such as toluene and formaldehyde (0.56±0.1 and 0.23±0.034 mg/m3) were found at high concentration in comparison with indoor air quality recommendations.

Emissions from 3D Printers as Occupational Environmental Pollutants

Environmental and Climate Technologies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Emissions from 3D Printers as Occupational Environmental Pollutants"}

While many people work remotely during the pandemic, three-dimensional (3D) printers are working to ensure the medical personnel and general public with the necessary specific materials. Ease of use, low cost, fast prototyping, and a wide range of materials are the advantages of 3D technology that can quickly adapt to specific needs in different application areas and result in increased popularity. The aim was to analyse the concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted in 3D printing zone where printers are located throughout the room around the perimeter and where orthopaedics and designers develop models during their full shift. The average ultrafine particles (UFP) concentration level fluctuates from 4×103 to 26×103 particles/cm3 that exceed the background level (2.5 μm) were detected. The median diameters of particle number (0.019, 0.014, 0.015 μm) and mass concentrations (4.394, 4.433, and 4.677 μm) were similar in all observed premises. Total VOC concentration was increased and specific substances such as toluene and formaldehyde (0.56±0.1 and 0.23±0.034 mg/m3) were found at high concentration in comparison with indoor air quality recommendations.

While many people work remotely during the pandemic, three-dimensional (3D) printers are working to ensure the medical personnel and general public with the...

Emissions from 3D Printers as Occupational Environmental Pollutants

Published Online: Dec 04, 2021

Page range: 1018 - 1031

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2021-0077

Keywords
ELPI+, indoor air, inhaled particles, occupational exposure, PM, PM, P-Trak, ultrafine particles, VOCs, 3D

© 2021 Ilona Pavlovska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Emissions from 3D Printers as Occupational Environmental Pollutants

Published Online: Dec 04, 2021

Page range: 1018 - 1031

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2021-0077

KeywordsELPI+, indoor air, inhaled particles, occupational exposure, PM, PM, P-Trak, ultrafine particles, VOCs, 3D

© 2021 Ilona Pavlovska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
ELPI+, indoor air, inhaled particles, occupational exposure, PM, PM, P-Trak, ultrafine particles, VOCs, 3D