3d printing is bad for your health?

[jeffhuber]

So it's always hard to tell whether this is the media being sensationalist or not but... http://hackaday.com/2013/11/20/3d-print ... dangerous/

Obviously being around molten plastic isn't *ideal* for one's health.

How do you handle the health concerns? Do you guys use air purifiers or other preventative measures?

Thanks!

[brent]

Using odorless filaments (ColorFabb XL, BRIDGE, PLA/PHA) with good ventilation prevents it. The particles emitted by ABS go through HEPA/Purifiers iirc.

[jeffhuber]

Thanks Brent. I'm thinking about picking up an air filter too just to try to do *something* since this thing will be sitting in my dining room. (apartment life)

I think this is really important for people to know about! it seems you don't want to mess around with UFPs (ultra-fine particles)

[Polygonhell]

Thanks Brent. I'm thinking about picking up an air filter too just to try to do *something* since this thing will be sitting in my dining room. (apartment life)

I think this is really important for people to know about! it seems you don't want to mess around with UFPs (ultra-fine particles)

It's all relative though, even with the somewhat bogus ABS test they did in the paper, your only talking about the equivalent of cooking food on a grill, if that level is significantly dangerous, I'd hate to be a line cook.

[jeffhuber]

That's true!

If anyone is interested, here is some proper research on the subject

"Removal of ultrafine particles in indoor air: Performance of various portable air cleaner technologies"

http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/artic ... chnologies
http://portfolio.syracusecoe.org/userfiles/66-107.pdf

Ultrafine particle (UFP) exposures have been associated with human morbidity and mortality. The removal of UFP from indoor air using portable air cleaners (PACs) of various technologies has not been studied in detail. In this study, 12 devices representing different PAC technologies were tested with an UFP challenge in a full-scale stainless-steel chamber. UFP generation and measurements were conducted using a six-jet atomizer and scanning mobility particle sizer, (SMPS) respectively. It was found that high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and electrostatic precipitator (ESP) PACs have the best performance in terms of UFP removal rate, with an electret-based PAC also showing comparably high removal rates. Using modeling based on the experimental findings, some PAC technologies were shown to be effective in reducing indoor UFP concentrations in a typical Quebec City residential room by a factor of about 90%. Negative and bi-polar ion generators were found to have mediocre UFP removal performance, while photocatalytic oxidation-, ozone generation- and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI)-based PACs had very limited or no UFP removal capabilities. Estimates of costs per performance index (Capital + Operating Costs/Calculated Clean Air Delivery RateCADR) showed that the HEPA-1, ESP- and electrets (FEF)based PACs provided the highest value for money in terms of total UFP removal performance.

[Mac The Knife]

I used to smoke, and bartend so I'm not worried,,,, Oh, and welding, I've done a bunch of that.

[Eaglezsoar]

Let's all move to San Fransisco and inhale all the fine smog everyday. I wonder which is worst for your health, the smog or a room where
there is a 3d printer printing. I think I would prefer the room with the 3D printer.

[Captain Starfish]

Keep a small bag of cement next to your printer with a teaspoon.

Every time you start to worry about your health, have a spoonful of cement and harden up a little, princess!



Unless you're printing all day, every day, with the printer right next to you in a small room then - seriously meow - how risky do you think this is compared to walking around in a busy city?

[jeffhuber]

Just because there are other risks that might be greater doesn't mean one can't be careful about smaller ones.

The point is about taking measured risks, managing their severity and most importantly **knowing** the risks you are taking.

But yes, I appreciate your sarcasm and funnies

[nitewatchman]

Since my wife learned what I have spent on 3D Printing it has been bad for my health!

nitewatchman

[brent]

Just because there are other risks that might be greater doesn't mean one can't be careful about smaller ones.

The point is about taking measured risks, managing their severity and most importantly **knowing** the risks you are taking.

But yes, I appreciate your sarcasm and funnies

I was certain someone would be sarcastic. The study they did is legitimate and other groups are currently conducting studies on health impacts. You should be 3D printing in a room with at least one window and cross ventilation. If you need to, setup the printer next to the window.

[JohnStack]

But it was done in Canada!

[Eaglezsoar]

But it was done in Canada!

I am quite sure the Canadians know what they are doing, as well as any other country.

[teoman]

Would encasing the printer and running a vaccumcleaner hose with a fan to the outside cause too much thermal havoc during the print?

Us poor people who live in dense cities do not have garages or extra rooms. So it will end up hidden somewhere.

I am thinking maybe a closet in the bathroom.

[Eric]

Would encasing the printer and running a vaccumcleaner hose with a fan to the outside cause too much thermal havoc during the print?

Us poor people who live in dense cities do not have garages or extra rooms. So it will end up hidden somewhere.

I am thinking maybe a closet in the bathroom.

Encasing the printer usually improves the thermal situation for printing. As for airflow, that depends....but you could just run the fan before opening the case. Or, as you said, make sure it's in a ventilated area to begin with.

[lordbinky]

Thanks Brent. I'm thinking about picking up an air filter too just to try to do *something* since this thing will be sitting in my dining room. (apartment life)

I think this is really important for people to know about! it seems you don't want to mess around with UFPs (ultra-fine particles)

It's all relative though, even with the somewhat bogus ABS test they did in the paper, your only talking about the equivalent of cooking food on a grill, if that level is significantly dangerous, I'd hate to be a line cook.

I remember finding an study where the ultra-fine particles generated from cooking bacon in a house (2 rooms away from the kitchen) was higher than whatever the study that spurred me to find the context of the particle size being reported. This led me to conclude that studies quantifying nano particle release from 3D printers is harmful to my health by generating desires to cook bacon.

[Mogarbobac]

I was originally concerned with this when I started printing so I looked up the material safety data sheets MSDA for short, I'm sure you've heard of them. Although abs can be mildly harmful in a non- ventilated area it wasn't overly concerning. PLA on the other hand is almost completely safe. I invite you to go read those sheets they are well informed. As far as particles so small that a HEPA filter can't get them. I'm not overly worried about it.

[Demolishun]

3D printing IS bad for your health. It causes you to spend way too much time sitting in a hunched position glued to the screen. This is caused by searching hundreds of websites that have free 3D models that you can print. You stay up to all hours watching your prints and arching your back while rubbing your hands together saying "Good good, good!" over and over again. This obsessiveness and bad posture is know to turn you into a drooling obsessed hunch back that hangs around others of the same type. So it has both a social contract for bad health and the general bad health habits that it starts.

However, there is help. Please go outside at least once a day. Eat food at least twice a day. Talk to non 3D printing people at least once a day. These steps can help keep you interacting with the world in a healthy manner, but still allow for your nighttime obsessed addiction. Also, contact your local maker groups to see if they have a Printers Anonymous sessions in your area.